Amide compounds as kinase inhibitors, compositions and methods of treatment

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to certain amides and heterocyclic compounds and uses of these amides and heterocyclic compounds to inhibit Rho-associated protein kinases and treat diseases including autoimmune disorders, graft versus host disease (GVHD), inflammation, cardiovascular disorders, central nervous system disorders, and neoplastic disorders.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2020/012263, filed on Jan. 3, 2020, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/788,461, filed on Jan. 4, 2019; this application is also a Continuation-In-Part of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2019/029003, filed on Apr. 24, 2019, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 62/662,105 filed on Apr. 24, 2018, and 62/788,461, filed on Jan. 4, 2019, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to amide compounds, their compositions, and medicaments containing the same, as well as processes for the preparation and use of such compounds, compositions and medicaments. Such compounds are potentially useful in the treatment of diseases associated with inappropriate tyrosine and/or serine/threonine kinase activities including cell proliferation diseases (e.g., cancer) and neurological and inflammatory diseases. Specifically, this disclosure is concerned with compounds and compositions inhibiting Rho-associated protein kinases, methods of treating diseases associated with Rho-associated protein kinases, and methods of synthesizing these compounds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An important large family of enzymes is the protein kinase enzyme family. Currently, there are about 500 different known protein kinases. Protein kinases serve to catalyze the phosphorylation of an amino acid side chain in various proteins by the transfer of the γ-phosphate of the ATP-Mg²⁺ complex to said amino acid side chain. These enzymes control the majority of the signaling processes inside the cells, thereby governing cell function, growth, differentiation, and destruction (apoptosis) through reversible phosphorylation of the hydroxyl groups of serine, threonine and tyrosine residues in proteins. Studies have shown that protein kinases are key regulators of many cell functions, including signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, cell motility, and cell division. Several oncogenes have also been shown to encode protein kinases, suggesting that kinases play a role in oncogenesis. These processes are highly regulated, often by complex intermeshed pathways where each kinase will itself be regulated by one or more kinases. Consequently, aberrant or inappropriate protein kinase activity can contribute to the rise of disease states associated with such aberrant kinase activity. Due to their physiological relevance, variety, and ubiquitousness, protein kinases have become one of the most important and widely studied families of enzymes in biochemical and medical research.

The protein kinase family of enzymes is typically classified into two main subfamilies: Protein Tyrosine Kinases and Protein Serine/Threonine Kinases, based on the amino acid residue they phosphorylate. The serine/threonine kinases (PSTK), include cyclic AMP- and cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinases, calcium- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinases, calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinases, casein kinases, cell division cycle protein kinases, and others. These kinases are usually cytoplasmic or associated with the particulate fractions of cells, possibly by anchoring proteins. Aberrant protein serine/threonine kinase activity has been implicated or is suspected in a number of pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, septic shock, bone loss, many cancers, and other proliferative diseases. Accordingly, serine/threonine kinases and the signal transduction pathways which they are part of are important targets for drug design. The tyrosine kinases phosphorylate tyrosine residues. Tyrosine kinases play an equally important role in cell regulation. These kinases include several receptors for molecules such as growth factors and hormones, including epidermal growth factor receptor, insulin receptor, platelet derived growth factor receptor, and others. Studies have indicated that many tyrosine kinases are transmembrane proteins with their receptor domains located on the outside of the cell and their kinase domains on the inside. Much work is also under progress to identify modulators of tyrosine kinases as well.

A major signal transduction systems utilized by cells is the RhoA-signaling pathways. RhoA is a small GTP binding protein that can be activated by several extracellular stimuli such as growth factor, hormones, mechanic stress, osmotic change, as well as high concentration of metabolite like glucose. RhoA activation involves GTP binding, conformation alteration, post-translational modification (geranylgeranyllization and famesylation), and activation of its intrinsic GTPase activity. Activated RhoA is capable of interacting with several effector proteins including ROCKs and transmit signals into cellular cytoplasm and the nucleus.

Rho-associated protein kinases, ROCK1 and ROCK2, constitute a family of kinases that can be activated by RhoA-GTP complex via physical association. Activated ROCKs phosphorylate a number of substrates and play important roles in pivotal cellular functions. The substrates for ROCKs include the myosin binding subunit of myosin light chain phosphatase (MBS, also named MYPT1), adducin, moesin, myosin light chain (MLC), LIM kinase, as well as transcription factor FHL. The phosphorylation of these substrates modulates the biological activity of the proteins and thus provides a means to alter a cell's response to external stimuli. ROCK1 and ROCK2 are differentially expressed and regulated in specific tissues. For example, ROCK1 is ubiquitously expressed at relatively high levels, whereas ROCK2 is preferentially expressed in cardiac and brain and skeletal muscle. The isoforms are also expressed in some tissues and in a developmental stage specific manner. ROCK1 is a substrate for cleavage by caspase-3 during apoptosis, whereas ROCK2 is not. Smooth muscle specific basic calponin is phosphorylated only by ROCK2.

One well-documented example is the participation of ROCK in smooth muscle contraction. Upon stimulation by phenylephrine, the vascular smooth muscle contracts. Studies have shown that phenylephrine stimulates alpha-adrenergic receptors and leads to the activation of RhoA. Activated RhoA in turn stimulates kinase activity of ROCK1 that in turn phosphorylates MBS. Such phosphorylation inhibits the enzyme activity of myosin light chain phosphatase and increases the phosphorylation of myosin light chain itself by a calcium-dependent myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and consequently increases the contractility of the myosin-actin bundle, leading to smooth muscle contraction. This phenomenon is sometimes called calcium sensitization. In addition to smooth muscle contraction, ROCKs have also been shown to be involved in cellular functions including apoptosis, cell migration, transcriptional activation, fibrosis, cytokinesis, inflammation, and cell proliferation. Moreover, in neurons, ROCK plays a critical role in the inhibition of axonal growth by myelin-associated inhibitory factors such as myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG). ROCK-activity also mediates the collapse of growth cones in developing neurons. Both processes are thought to be mediated by ROCK-induced phosphorylation of substrates such as LIM kinase and myosin light chain phosphatase, resulting in increased contractility of the neuronal actin-myosin system.

Inhibitors of ROCKs have been suggested for use in the treatments of a variety of diseases. They include cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, chronic and congestive heart failure, cardiac hypertrophy, restenosis, chronic renal failure, and atherosclerosis. In addition, because of its muscle relaxing properties, it is also suitable for asthma, male erectile dysfunctions, female sexual dysfunction, and over-active bladder syndrome. ROCK inhibitors have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, they can be used as a treatment for neuroinflammatory diseases such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and inflammatory pain, as well as other inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease. In addition, based on their neurite outgrowth inducing effects, ROCK inhibitors could be useful drugs for neuronal regeneration, inducing new axonal growth and axonal rewiring across lesions within the CNS. ROCK inhibitors are therefore likely to be useful for regenerative (recovery) treatment of CNS disorders such as spinal cord injury, acute neuronal injury (stroke, traumatic brain injury), Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurodegenerative disorders. Since ROCK inhibitors reduce cell proliferation and cell migration, they could be useful in treating cancer and tumor metastasis. Furthermore, there is evidence suggesting that ROCK inhibitors suppress cytoskeletal rearrangement upon virus invasion, thus they also have potential therapeutic value in antiviral and anti-bacterial applications. ROCK inhibitors may also be useful for the treatment of insulin resistance and diabetes.

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a condition in which the pressure in the lung circulation increases, eventually causing heart failure and death. Although many causes and conditions are found to be associated with PAH, many of them share in common several fundamental pathophysiological features. One important feature among these processes is dysfunction of the endothelium, the internal cellular layer of all vessel walls, which is normally responsible for the production and metabolism of a large array of substances that regulate vessel tone and repair and inhibit clot formation. In the setting of PAH, endothelial dysfunction can lead to excessive production of deleterious substances and impaired production of protective substances. Whether this is the primary event in the development of PAH or part of a downstream cascade remains unknown, but in either case, it is an important factor in the progressive vasoconstriction and vascular proliferation that characterize the disease. Recent in vivo studies showed that the Rho GTPase/RhoA pathway and its downstream effectors, the Rho-kinases (ROCK-1 and ROCK-2), have an important role in PAH, due to their lasting effects on vasoconstriction and pulmonary cell proliferation leading to vascular remodeling (See, for example, Wang et al., Inhibition of RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway ameliorates hypoxic pulmonary hypertension via HIF-1α-dependent functional TRPC channels, Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 369: 60-72 (2019); Cantoni et al., Pharmacological characterization of a highly selective Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor and its therapeutic effects in experimental pulmonary hypertension, Eur J Pharmacol. 850:126-34; Zhuang et al., Fasudil preserves lung endothelial function and reduces pulmonary vascular remodeling in a rat model of end-stage pulmonary hypertension with left heart disease, Int J Mol Med. 42(3):1341-52 (2018)).

Given the extent of involved cellular processes and diseases, compounds that selectively inhibit one rho kinase, or inhibit ROCK1 and ROCK2 are desired. The present inventors have discovered novel heterocyclic compounds, which are inhibitors of ROCK activities. Such derivatives are useful in the treatment of disorders associated with inappropriate or dysregulated ROCK activities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates methods of inhibiting Rho-associated protein kinases (e.g., ROCK-1, ROCK2, or both), comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of at least one of the compounds having the formulae I-IV described herein. Accordingly, also described are method of treating a disease associated with Rho-kinase modulation in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a Rho kinase inhibitor or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the Rho kinase inhibitor comprises at least one presently disclosed compound. In some embodiments, the Rho kinase inhibitor or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is ROCK2 selective. In some aspects, the subject is administered via a pharmaceutical composition disclosed herein. In some non-limiting embodiments, the (pharmaceutical) composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, prodrug, stereoisomer, or tautomer thereof.

The disease associated with Rho-kinase modulation may be an arterial thrombotic disorder, cancer, a cardiovascular disease, a central nervous system disorder, glucose intolerance, a hematologic disease, a hematologic malignant neoplastic disorder, hyperinsulinemia, an infection, an inflammatory or autoimmune disease, insulin resistance, a metabolic syndrome, a neoplastic disease, a neurodegenerative disease, a neurodevelopmental disorder, an ocular disorder, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, or a vascular smooth muscle dysfunction.

In certain non-limiting implementations, cancer is selected from the group consisting of: angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), breast cancer, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), hepatocellular cancer, gastric cancers, leukemia, lung cancer, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, amoeboid cancer cells, cancer characterized by amoeboid-like migration, peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), prostate cancer, renal cancer, and combinations thereof. In some implementations, gastric cancer comprises rhoA-mutated gastric cancer.

In other non-limiting implementations, the neurodegenerative disease is selected from the group consisting of: Alzheimer's, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Huntington's, Parkinson's, spinal muscular atrophy, and combinations thereof.

In yet other non-limiting implementations, the neurodevelopmental disorder comprises Rett syndrome, Niemann-Pick type C, or both.

In further non-limiting implementations, the inflammatory or autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of: asthma, cardiovascular inflammation, renal inflammation, arteriosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, spondylitis arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, eczema, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn's disease, graft versus host disease, transplant rejection, a fibrotic disorder, and combinations thereof. In a preferred non-limiting implementation, the fibrotic disorder is selected from the group consisting of: liver fibrosis, lung fibrosis, skin fibrosis, cardiac fibrosis, kidney fibrosis, and combinations thereof. In a further preferred non-limiting implementation, the fibrotic disorder comprises lung fibrosis. In a yet further preferred non-limiting implementation, the lung fibrosis comprises idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

In certain implementations, the cardiovascular disease or vascular smooth muscle dysfunction is selected from the group consisting of: atherosclerosis, cardiac hypertrophy, cardiovascular stress, cerebral ischemia, cerebral vasospasm, chronic ischemia, erectile dysfunction, heart failure, hypertension, infarction-reperfusion injury, ocular hypertension, peripheral artery disease, pressure overload, restenosis, and combinations thereof.

In some non-limiting embodiments, the disease associated with Rho-associated protein kinase modulation comprises a hematologic malignant neoplastic disorder. In some non-limiting implementations, the method further comprises identifying the subject in need of therapy for the hematologic malignant neoplastic disorder.

In some non-limiting embodiments, the hematologic malignant neoplastic disorder is selected from the group consisting of: acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), acute undifferentiated leukemia (AUL), adult T-cell ALL, AML with trilineage myelodysplasia (AMLITMDS), anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL), essential thrombocytosis (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (MF), Hodgkin's disease, juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), leukemia, mixed lineage leukemia (MLL), multiple myeloma (MM), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), myeloma, myeloproliferative disease, myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), a disease category that includes polycythemia vera (PV), prolymphocytic leukemia (PML), and combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the hematologic malignant neoplastic disorder is characterized by deregulated FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase activity.

In one aspect, the neoplastic disease is ITD-FLT3⁺ acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In other aspects, the neoplastic disease is lymphoma, carcinoma, leukemia, sarcoma, and/or blastoma.

In some non-limiting embodiments, the ocular disorder is selected from the group consisting of: ocular hypertension, age related macular degeneration (AMD), choroidal neovascularization (CNV), diabetic macular edema (DME), iris neovascularization, uveitis, glaucoma, retinitis of prematurity (ROP), and combinations thereof. In some implementations, glaucoma is selected from the group consisting of: primary open-angle glaucoma, acute angle-closure glaucoma, pigmentary glaucoma, congenital glaucoma, normal tension glaucoma, secondary glaucoma, neo vascular glaucoma, and combinations thereof.

In some non-limiting embodiments, the disease associated with modulation of Rho-associated protein kinases is selected from the group consisting of: a hematologic malignant neoplastic disorder characterized by deregulated FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase activity, the ocular disorder, and a combination thereof.

In some non-limiting embodiments, the disease associated with modulation of Rho-associated protein kinases is selected from the group consisting of: a hematologic malignant neoplastic disorder, an ocular disorder, a pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), or a combination thereof, and wherein the hematologic malignant neoplastic disorder is characterized by deregulated FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase activity.

In some non-limiting embodiments, the disease associated with modulation of Rho-associated protein kinases is selected from the group consisting of: pulmonary arterial hypertension, amoeboid cancer cell, cancer characterized by amoeboid cancer cell migration, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and primary myelofibrosis.

In some preferred non-limiting implementations, the disease associated with modulation of Rho-associated protein kinases is selected from the group consisting of: gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, amoeboid cancer cells, cancer characterized by amoeboid-like migration, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), psoriasis, glaucoma, primary myelofibrosis (MF), liver fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and a combination thereof. In some aspects, the disease associated with modulation of Rho-associated protein kinases includes chronic GVHD (cGVHD).

In one aspects, the Rho kinase inhibitor is a compound of Formula (I):

wherein

Z₁ is OR′, phenyl, naphthyl, or C5-C10 membered heterocycle, wherein the phenyl, naphthyl, or C5-C10 membered heterocycle is optionally substituted with H, halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or a 3- to 10-membered heterocycle, and wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or 3- to 10-membered heterocycle is optionally substituted with one or more of the following: halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl;

Z₂ is phenyl, naphthyl, or C5-C10 membered heterocycle, wherein the phenyl, naphthyl, or C5-C10 membered heterocycle is optionally substituted with H, halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —OR′OR″, —O(CH₂)₂NR′R″, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or a 3- to 10-membered heterocycle, and wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or 3- to 10-membered heterocycle is optionally substituted with one or more of the following: halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl;

R₁ is H, —C1-C6 alkyl or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl is optionally substituted with one or more of the following: halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, or —S(O)₂R′;

R is —C1-C6 alkyl, wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more of the following: H, halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, or —S(O)₂R′;

X is a bond or —OR₄, wherein R₄ is H, —C1-C6 alkyl or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl;

R₂ and R₃ are independently H, —C1-C6 alkyl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, aryl, C5-C10 membered heterocycle,

wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, aryl, C5-C10 membered heterocycle is optionally substituted with H, halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —CNR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or 3- to 11-membered heterocycle, wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or 3- to 11-membered heterocycle is optionally substituted with one or more of the following: halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —CH₂NR′R″, —OR′, —OR′R″, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, and wherein R₅ is —C1-C6 alkyl, —OCH₂CH₂—, —NR₆CH₂CH₂—, —NC(O)CH₂CH₂—; R₆ is H, —C1-C6 alkyl or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl; and

R′ or R″ is independently —H or —C1-C6 alkyl, or R′ and R″ together, optionally attaching to N or O atom, form a 4- to 8-membered cyclic structure.

In some non-limiting embodiments, Z₁ is an optionally substituted C5-C10 membered heterocycle. In certain non-limiting implementations, Z₁ is an optionally substituted pyridine, pyrimidine, pyrazole, imidazole, oxazole, thiazole, indazole or tetrazole. In further non-limiting implementations, Z₁ is an optionally substituted pyridine or pyrazole. The C5-C10 membered heterocycle, pyridine, pyrimidine, pyrazole, imidazole, oxazole, thiazole, indazole or tetrazole is optionally substituted with H, halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or a 3- to 10-membered heterocycle, and wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or 3- to 10-membered heterocycle is optionally substituted with one or more of the following: halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl.

In other non-limiting embodiments, Z₁ is an unsubstituted C5-C10 membered heterocycle. In certain non-limiting implementations, Z₁ is an unsubstituted pyridine, pyrimidine, pyrazole, imidazole, oxazole, thiazole, indazole or tetrazole. In further non-limiting implementations, Z₁ is an unsubstituted pyridine or pyrazole. In yet further non-limiting implementations, Z₁ is an unsubstituted

In some embodiments, Z₁ is —OR′, wherein R′ is methyl (i.e., Z₁ is methoxy).

In some non-limiting embodiments, Z₂ is an optionally substituted C5-C10 membered heterocycle. In certain non-limiting implementations, Z₂ is an optionally substituted phenyl, pyridine, or pyrazole. The C5-C10 membered heterocycle, phenyl, pyridine, or pyrazole is optionally substituted with H, halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or a 3- to 10-membered heterocycle. In further non-limiting implementations, Z₂ is a phenyl, pyridine or pyrazole optionally substituted with halo, —OR′, —C1-C6 alkyl, —OR′OR″, or —O(CH₂)₂NR′R″, wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more of —OR′ or NR′R″, and wherein the R′ or R″ are independently —H, methyl or ethyl. In yet further non-limiting implementations, Z₂ is phenyl substituted with halo, —OR′, —C1-C6 alkyl, —OR′OR″, or —O(CH₂)₂NR′R″, wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more of —OR′ or NR′R″, and wherein the R′ or R″ are independently —H, methyl or ethyl.

In other non-limiting embodiments, Z₂ is an unsubstituted C5-C10 membered heterocycle. In certain non-limiting implementations, Z₂ is an unsubstituted phenyl, pyridine, or pyrazole. In further non-limiting implementations, Z₂ is selected from the group consisting of:

In some non-limiting embodiments, R₁ is a H, unsubstituted methyl, methoxyethyl or dimethylaminoethyl. In some non-limiting implementations, R₁ is H or

In some non-limiting embodiments, R is a methyl. In other non-limiting embodiments, R is hydroxymethyl and the compound has a structure of Formula (III):

In further non-limiting implementations, R is a hydroxymethyl with S configuration or a methyl with R configuration.

In some non-limiting embodiments, X is a bond.

In other non-limiting embodiments, X is —OR₄, and the compound has a structure of Formula (II):

In some non-limiting embodiments, R₂ is H, and R₃ is H, —C1-C6 alkyl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, aryl, C5-C10 membered heterocycle,

wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, aryl, C5-C10 membered heterocycle is optionally substituted with H, halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —CNR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or 3- to 11-membered heterocycle, wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or 3- to 11-membered heterocycle is optionally substituted with one or more of the following: halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —CH₂NR′R″, —OR′, —OR′R″, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, wherein R₅ is —C1-C6 alkyl, —OCH₂CH₂—, —NR₆CH₂CH₂—, —NC(O)CH₂CH₂—, and wherein R₆ is H, —C1-C6 alkyl or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl.

In certain non-limiting implementations, R₂ is H, and R₃ is —C3-C7 cycloalkyl or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl methyl, wherein the —C3-C7 cycloalkyl or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl methyl is optionally substituted with H, halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —CNR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or 3- to 11-membered heterocycle.

In further non-limiting implementations, R₂ is H, and R₃ is

a —C3-C7 cycloalkyl selected from the group consisting of: cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopropyl, cyclohexyl methyl, cyclopentyl methyl, cyclobutyl methyl, cyclopropyl methyl; an aryl selected from the group consisting of: phenyl and benzyl; or a C5-C10 membered heterocycle selected from the group consisting of: pyrrolidine-3-yl, piperidine-4-yl, (pyrrolidine-3-yl)methyl, (piperidine-4-yl)methyl, wherein the cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopropyl, cyclohexyl methyl, cyclopentyl methyl, cyclobutyl methyl cyclopropyl methyl phenyl, benzyl, pyrrolidine-3-yl, piperidine-4-yl, (pyrrolidine-3-yl)methyl or (piperidine-4-yl)methyl is optionally substituted with H, halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —CNR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or 3- to 11-membered heterocycle. In yet further non-limiting implementations, R₂ is H, and R₃ is cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl.

In other non-limiting embodiments, R₂ and R₃ are independently H, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl methyl; wherein the —C3-C7 cycloalkyl or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl methyl is optionally substituted with H, halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —CNR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or a 3- to 11-membered heterocycle; with the proviso that R₂ and R₃ are not both H.

In certain non-limiting implementations, R₂ and R₃ are independently H, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopropyl, cyclohexyl methyl, cyclopentyl methyl, cyclobutyl methyl or cyclopropyl methyl; and R₂ and R₃ are independently optionally substituted with H, halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —CNR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or a 3- to 11-membered heterocycle.

In other non-limiting implementations, R₂ and R₃ are independently H, phenyl, or benzyl; wherein the phenyl or benzyl is optionally substituted with H, halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —CNR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or a 3- to 11-membered heterocycle; with the proviso that R₂ and R₃ are not both H.

In some embodiments, R₁, R₂, or both are H.

In certain non-limiting implementations, Z₁ is a pyridine or pyrazole; Z₂ is an unsubstituted phenyl, pyridine, or pyrazole, or a phenyl substituted with halo, —OR′, —C1-C6 alkyl, —OR′OR″, or —O(CH₂)₂NR′R″, wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more of —OR′ or NR′R″; R₁ is H, unsubstituted methyl, or dimethylamine; X is a bond; R₂ is H; and the R′ or R″ is independently —H, methyl or ethyl.

In other non-limiting implementations, Z₁ is a pyridine, optionally substituted with one or more of the following: halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl; Z₂ is a C5-C10 membered heterocycle, optionally substituted with H, halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or a 3- to 11-membered heterocycle; R₂ and R₃ are independently H, phenyl, benzyl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl methyl, wherein the phenyl, benzyl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl methyl is optionally substituted with H, halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or a 3 to 11-membered heterocycle; with the proviso that R₂ and R₃ are not both H.

In further embodiments, R is hydroxymethyl and the compound has a structure of Formula (IV):

wherein

Z₁ is -pyridine, -pyrimidine, -pyrazole, -imidazole, -oxazole, -thiazole, -indazole, or -tetrazole, wherein the -pyridine, -pyrimidine, -pyrazole, -imidazole, -oxazole, -thiazole, -indazole, or -tetrazole is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more of the following: -halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, -guanidino, -nitro, -nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, -aryl, —C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, and a 3- to 10-membered heterocycle, and the —C1-C6 alkyl, -aryl, —C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, or 3- to 10-membered heterocycle is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more of the following: -halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, -guanidino, -nitro, -nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, -aryl, and —C3-C7 cycloalkyl;

R₁ is —H, —C1-C6 alkyl, or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more of the following: -halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, and —S(O)₂R′;

R₂ and R₃ are independently —H, —C1-C6 alkyl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, -aryl, a heterocycle comprising 5 to 10 carbons,

wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, -aryl, or heterocycle comprising 5 to 10 carbons is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more of the following: -halo, —OH, —CN, —CNR′R″, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, -guanidino, -nitro, -nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, and 3- to 11-membered heterocycle, wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or 3- to 11-membered heterocycle is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more of the following: -halo, —CNR′R″, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —OR′OR″, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, -guanidino, -nitro, -nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, -aryl, and —C3-C7 cycloalkyl; R₅ is —C1-C6 alkyl, —OCH₂CH₂—, —NR₆CH₂CH₂—, or —NC(O)CH₂CH₂—, and R₆ is —H, —C1-C6 alkyl, or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl;

R′ and R″ are independently —H or —C1-C6 alkyl, or R′ and R″ together, optionally attached to N or O atom, form a 4- to 8-membered cyclic structure; and

R₇ is —H, -halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, —C1-C6 alkyl, -C3-C7 cycloalkyl, -aryl, or a heterocycle comprising 5 to 10 carbons, wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl, -C3-C7 cycloalkyl, -aryl, or heterocycle comprising 5 to 10 carbons is unsubstituted or substituted with -halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, -guanidino, -nitro, -nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, -aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or 3- to 10-membered heterocycle.

In some non-limiting implementations, at least one of the compounds is selected from the group consisting of:

In other non-limiting implementations, at least one of the compounds is selected from the group consisting of:

In further implementations, at least one of the compounds is selected from the group consisting of:

In yet further implementations, at least one of the compounds is selected from the group consisting of:

In a preferred non-limiting implementation, the compound consists of

In a different preferred non-limiting implementation, the compound consists of

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the article “a” or “an” refers to one or more than one (e.g., at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. By way of example, “an element” means one element or more than one element.

As used herein, the term “and/or” refers to either “and” or “or” unless indicated otherwise.

As used herein, the term “optionally substituted” refers to that a given chemical moiety (e.g., an alkyl group) can (but is not required to) be bonded other substituents (e.g., heteroatoms). For instance, an alkyl group that is optionally substituted can be a fully saturated alkyl chain (e.g., a pure hydrocarbon). Alternatively, the same optionally substituted alkyl group can have substituents different from hydrogen. For instance, it can, at any point along the chain be bounded to a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, or any other substituent described herein. Thus, the term “optionally substituted” means that a given chemical moiety has the potential to contain other functional groups but does not necessarily have any further functional groups.

As used herein, the term “aryl” refers to cyclic, aromatic hydrocarbon groups that have 1 to 2 aromatic rings, including monocyclic or bicyclic groups such as phenyl, biphenyl or naphthyl. Where containing two aromatic rings (bicyclic, etc.), the aromatic rings of the aryl group may be joined at a single point (e.g., biphenyl), or fused (e.g., naphthyl). The aryl group may be optionally substituted by one or more substituents, e.g., 1 to 5 substituents, at any point of attachment. Exemplary substituents include, but are not limited to, —H, -halogen, -0-Ci-C₆ alkyl, —C C₆ alkyl, —OC₂-C₆ alkenyl, —OC₂-C₆ alkynyl, —C₂-C₆ alkenyl, —C₂-C₆ alkynyl, —OH, —OP(0)(OH)₂, —OC(0)Ci-C₆ alkyl, —C(0)Ci-C₆ alkyl, —OC(0)OCi-C₆ alkyl, —H₂, —H(Ci-C₆ alkyl), —N(Ci-C₆ alkyl)₂, —S(0)₂-Ci-C₆ alkyl, —S(0)HCi-C₆ alkyl, and —S(0)N(Ci-C₆ alkyl)₂. The substituents can themselves be optionally substituted. Furthermore, when containing two fused rings the aryl groups herein defined may have an unsaturated or partially saturated ring fused with a fully saturated ring. Exemplary ring systems of these aryl groups include indanyl, indenyl, tetrahydronaphthalenyl, and tetrahydrobenzoannulenyl.

Unless otherwise specifically defined, “heteroaryl” means a monovalent monocyclic aromatic radical of 5 to 24 ring atoms or a polycyclic aromatic radical, containing one or more ring heteroatoms selected from N, S, P, and O, the remaining ring atoms being C. Heteroaryl as herein defined also means a bicyclic heteroaromatic group wherein the heteroatom is selected from N, S, P, and O. The aromatic radical is optionally substituted independently with one or more substituents described herein. Examples include, but are not limited to, furyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, pyridyl, pyrazolyl, pyrimidinyl, imidazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, pyrazinyl, indolyl, thiophen-2-yl, quinolyl, benzopyranyl, isothiazolyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazole, indazole, benzimidazolyl, thieno[3,2-b]thiophene, triazolyl, triazinyl, imidazo[1,2-b]pyrazolyl, furo[2,3-c]pyridinyl, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridinyl, indazolyl, pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridinyl, pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridinyl, pyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridinyl, thieno[3,2-c]pyridinyl, thieno[2,3-c]pyridinyl, thieno[2,3-b]pyridinyl, benzothiazolyl, indolyl, indolinyl, indolinonyl, dihydrobenzothiophenyl, dihydrobenzofuranyl, benzofuran, chromanyl, thiochromanyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, dihydrobenzothiazine, dihydrobenzoxanyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, 1,6-naphthyridinyl, benzo[de]isoquinolinyl, pyrido[4,3-b][1,6]naphthyridinyl, thieno[2,3-b]pyrazinyl, quinazolinyl, tetrazolo[1,5-a]pyridinyl, [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridinyl, isoindolyl, pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridinyl, pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridinyl, pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridinyl, imidazo[5,4-b]pyridinyl, pyrrolo[1,2-a] pyrimidinyl, tetrahydro pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidinyl, 3,4-dihydro-2H-1 ²-pyrrolo[2,1-b] pyrimidine, dibenzo[b,d] thiophene, pyridin-2-one, furo[3,2-c]pyridinyl, furo[2,3-c]pyridinyl, 1H-pyrido[3,4-b][1,4] thiazinyl, benzooxazolyl, benzoisoxazolyl, furo[2,3-b]pyridinyl, benzothiophenyl, 1,5-naphthyridinyl, furo[3,2-b]pyridine, [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridinyl, benzo[1,2,3]triazolyl, imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidinyl, [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazinyl, benzo[c] [1,2,5]thiadiazolyl, benzo[c] [1,2,5]oxadiazole, 1,3-dihydro-2H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-one, 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrazolo, [1,5-b][1,2]oxazinyl, 4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridinyl, thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazolyl, imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazolyl, thieno[2,3-b]pyrrolyl, 3H-indolyl, and derivatives thereof.

Furthermore, when containing two fused rings the heteroaryl groups herein defined may have an unsaturated or partially saturated ring fused with a fully saturated ring. Exemplary ring systems of these heteroaryl groups include indolinyl, indolinonyl, dihydrobenzothiophenyl, dihydrobenzofuran, chromanyl, thiochromanyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, dihydrobenzothiazine, 3,4-dihydro-1H˜isoquinolinyl, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran, indolinyl, indolyl, and dihydrobenzoxanyl.

As used herein, the term “alkyl” refers to a straight or branched chain saturated hydrocarbon. Ci-C6 alkyl groups contain 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Non-limiting examples of a Ci-C6 alkyl group include: methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, isopentyl, and neopentyl.

As used herein, the term “alkenyl” refers to an aliphatic hydrocarbon group containing a carbon-carbon double bond and which may be straight or branched having about 2 to about 6 carbon atoms in the chain. Alkenyl groups can have 2 to about 4 carbon atoms in the chain. Branched means that one or more lower alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, or propyl are attached to a linear alkenyl chain. Exemplary alkenyl groups include ethenyl, propenyl, n-butenyl, and i-butenyl. A C2-C6 alkenyl group is an alkenyl group containing between 2 and 6 carbon atoms.

As used herein, the term “alkynyl” refers to an aliphatic hydrocarbon group containing a carbon-carbon triple bond and which may be straight or branched having about 2 to about 6 carbon atoms in the chain. Alkynyl groups can have 2 to about 4 carbon atoms in the chain. Branched means that one or more lower alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, or propyl are attached to a linear alkynyl chain. Exemplary alkynyl groups include ethynyl, propynyl, n-butynyl, 2-butynyl, 3-methylbutynyl, and n-pentynyl. A C2-C6 alkynyl group is an alkynyl group containing between 2 and 6 carbon atoms.

As used herein, the term “cycloalkyl” refers to monocyclic or polycyclic saturated carbon rings containing 3-18 carbon atoms. Examples of cycloalkyl groups include, without limitations, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptanyl, cyclooctanyl, norboranyl, norborenyl, bicyclo[2.2.2]octanyl, or bicyclo[2.2.2]octenyl. A C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl is a cycloalkyl group containing between 3 and 8 carbon atoms. A cycloalkyl group can be fused (e.g., decalin) or bridged (e.g., norbornane).

As used herein, the term “cycloalkenyl” refers to monocyclic, non-aromatic unsaturated carbon rings containing 3-18 carbon atoms. Examples of cycloalkenyl groups include, without limitation, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptenyl, cyclooctenyl, and norborenyl. A C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl is a cycloalkenyl group containing between 3 and 8 carbon atoms.

As used herein, the term “heterocyclyl,” “heterocycloalkyl,” or “heterocycle” refers to monocyclic or polycyclic 3 to 24-membered rings containing carbon and heteroatoms taken from oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur and wherein there is not delocalized R electrons (aromaticity) shared among the ring carbon or heteroatoms. Heterocyclyl rings include, but are not limited to, oxetanyl, azetadinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, pyrrolidinyl, oxazolinyl, oxazolidinyl, thiazolinyl, thiazolidinyl, pyranyl, thiopyranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, dioxalinyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl S-oxide, thiomorpholinyl S-dioxide, piperazinyl, azepinyl, oxepinyl, diazepinyl, tropanyl, and homotropanyl. A heterocyclyl or heterocycloalkyl ring can also be fused or bridged, e.g., can be a bicyclic ring.

The term “carbonyl” refers to a functional group composing a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom. It can be abbreviated herein as “oxo,” as C(O), or as C=0.

“Spirocycle” or “spirocyclic” means carbogenic bicyclic ring systems with both rings connected through a single atom. The ring can be different in size and nature, or identical in size and nature. Examples include spiropentane, spirohexane, spiroheptane, spirooctane, spirononane, or spirodecane. One or both of the rings in a spirocycle can be fused to another ring carbocyclic, heterocyclic, aromatic, or heteroaromatic ring. One or more of the carbon atoms in the spirocycle can be substituted with a heteroatom (e.g., O, N, S, or P). A C3-C₁₂ spirocycle is a spirocycle containing between 5 and 12 carbon atoms. One or more of the carbon atoms can be substituted with a heteroatom.

The term “spirocyclic heterocycle” or “spiroheterocycle” is understood to mean a spirocycle wherein at least one of the rings is a heterocycle (e.g., at least one of the rings is furanyl, morpholinyl, or piperadinyl).

As used herein, halo groups include any halogen. Non-limiting examples include —F, —Cl, —Br, or —I.

A —C₁-C₆ alkyl group includes any straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon comprised of between one and six carbon atoms. Non-limiting examples of —C₁-C₆ alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, hexyl, isohexyl, neohexyl, ethylenyl, propylenyl, 1-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 1-pentenyl, 2-pentenyl, 1-hexenyl, 2-hexenyl, 3-hexenyl, acetylenyl, pentynyl, 1-butynyl, 2-butynyl, 1-pentynyl, 2-pentynyl, 1-hexynyl, 2-hexynyl and 3-hexynyl groups. Substituted —C₁-C₆ alkyl groups may include any applicable chemical moieties. Non-limiting examples of groups that may be substituted onto any of the above listed —C1-C6 alkyl groups include: halo, —C₁-C₆ alkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆ alkyl), C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, N(R′)₂, —NHC(O)R′ or —C(O)NHR′ groups. The groups denoted R′ above may be —H, any —C₁-C₆ alkyl, or two R′ may, optionally with a nitrogen or an oxygen atom which they are bound to, form a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-membered ring system when the substitution is —N(R′)₂.

An aryl group includes any unsubstituted or substituted phenyl or napthyl group. Non-limiting examples of groups that may be substituted onto an aryl group include: halo, —C₁-C₆ alkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆ alkyl), —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OC(O)R′, NHR′, N(R′)₂, —NHC(O), R′, or —C(O)NEtR′. The group denoted R′ may be —H or any —C₁-C₆ alkyl.

A C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl group includes any 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, or 7-membered substituted or unsubstituted non-aromatic carbocyclic ring. Non-limiting examples of C3-C7 cycloalkyl groups include: cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentadienyl, cyclohexyl, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptyl, cycloheptanyl, 1,3-cyclohexadienyl, 1,4-cyclohexadienyl, 1,3-cycloheptadienyl, and 1,3,5-cycloheptatrienyl groups. Non-limiting examples of groups that may be substituted onto C₃-C₇ cycloalkyl groups include: -halo, —C₁-C₆ alkyl, —O—(C₁-C₆ alkyl), —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OC(O) R′, NHR′, N(R′)₂, —NHC(O)R′ or —C(O)NHR′ groups. The groups denoted R′ above include an —H or any unsubstituted —C₁-C₆ alkyl, examples of which are listed above. Halo groups include any halogen. Non-limiting examples include —F, —Cl, —Br, or —I.

A heterocycle may be any optionally substituted saturated, unsaturated or aromatic cyclic moiety wherein said cyclic moiety is interrupted by at least one heteroatom selected from oxygen (O), sulfur (S) or nitrogen (N). Heterocycles may be monocyclic or polycyclic rings. For example, suitable substituents include halogen, halogenated C1-6 alkyl, halogenated C1-6 alkoxy, amino, amidino, amido, azido, cyano, guanidino, hydroxyl, nitro, nitroso, urea, OS(O)₂R; OS(O)₂OR, S(O)₂OR S(O)₀₋₂R, C(O)OR wherein R may be H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, aryl or 3 to 10 membered heterocycle) OP(O)OR₁OR₂, P(O)OR₁OR₂, SO₂NR₁R₂, NR₁SO₂R₂C(R₁)NR₂C(R₁)NOR₂, R₁ and R₂ may be independently H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, aryl or 3 to 10 membered heterocycle), NR₁C(O)R₂, NR₁C(O)OR₂, NR₃C(O)NR₂R₁, C(O)NR₁R₂, OC(O)NR₁R₂. For these groups, R₁, R₂ and R₃ are each independently selected from H, C₁-C₆ alkyl, aryl or 3 to 10 membered heterocycle or R₁ and R₂ are taken together with the atoms to which they are attached to form a 3 to 10 membered heterocycle.

Possible substituents of heterocycle groups include halogen (Br, Cl, I or F), cyano, nitro, oxo, amino, C1-4 alkyl (e.g., CH₃, C₂H₅, isopropyl) C₁₋₄alkoxy (e.g., OCH₃, OC₂H₅), halogenated C₁₋₄ alkyl (e.g., CF₃, CHF₂), halogenated C1-4 alkoxy (e.g., OCF₃, OC₂F₅), COOH, COO—C₁₋₄ alkyl, CO—C₁₋₄ alkyl, C₁₋₄ alkyl-S— (e.g., CH₃S, C₂H₅S), halogenated C₁₋₄ alkyl-S— (e.g., CF₃S, C₂F₅S), benzyloxy, and pyrazolyl.

Non-limiting examples of heterocycles include: azepinyl, aziridinyl, azetyl, azetidinyl, diazepinyl, dithiadiazinyl, dioxazepinyl, dioxolanyl, dithiazolyl, furanyl, isooxazolyl, isothiazolyl, imidazolyl, morpholinyl, morpholino, oxetanyl, oxadiazolyl, oxiranyl, oxazinyl, oxazolyl, piperazinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, piperidyl, piperidino, pyridyl, pyranyl, pyrazolyl, pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, thiatriazolyl, tetrazolyl, thiadiazolyl, triazolyl, thiazolyl, thienyl, tetrazinyl, thiadiazinyl, triazinyl, thiazinyl, thiopyranyl furoisoxazolyl, imidazothiazolyl, thienoisothiazolyl, thienothiazolyl, imidazopyrazolyl, cyclopentapyrazolyl, pyrrolopyrrolyl, thienothienyl, thiadiazolopyrimidinyl, thiazolothiazinyl, thiazolopyrimidinyl, thiazolopyridinyl, oxazolopyrimidinyl, oxazolopyridyl, benzoxazolyl, benzisothiazolyl, benzothiazolyl, imidazopyrazinyl, purinyl, pyrazolopyrimidinyl, imidazopyridinyl, benzimidazolyl, indazolyl, benzoxathiolyl, benzodioxolyl, benzodithiolyl, indolizinyl, indolinyl, isoindolinyl, furopyrimidinyl, furopyridyl, benzofuranyl, isobenzofuranyl, thienopyrimidinyl, thienapyridyl, benzothienyl, cyclopentaoxazinyl, cyclopentafuranyl, benzoxazinyl, benzothiazinyl, quinazolinyl, naphthyridinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, benzopyranyl, pyridopyridazinyl and pyridopyrimidinyl groups.

The invention further encompasses any other physiochemical or sterochemical form that the compound may assume. Such forms include diastereomers, racemates, isolated enantiomers, hydrated forms, solvated forms, any known or yet to be disclosed crystalline or amorphous form including all polymorphic crystalline forms. Amorphous forms lack a distinguishable crystal lattice and therefore lack an orderly arrangement of structural units. Many pharmaceutical compounds have amorphous forms. Methods of generating such chemical forms will be well known by one skilled in the art.

Another aspect of the invention is that the carbon atom bearing R or —CH2OH or R4 in Formula I, II, or III may have “S” or “R” configuration. All the diastereomers, racemates, isolated enantiomers are within the scope of the invention.

Racemates, individual enantiomers, or diasteromers of the compound may be prepared by specific synthesis or resolution through any method now known or yet to be disclosed. For example, the compound may be resolved into it enantiomers by the formation of diasteromeric pairs through salt formation using an optically active acid. Enantiomers are fractionally crystallized and the free base regenerated. In another example, enantiomers may be separated by chromatography. Such chromatography may be any appropriate method now known or yet to be disclosed that is appropriate to separate enantiomers such as HPLC on a chiral column.

In some embodiments, the compound is in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include any salt derived from an organic or inorganic acid. Non-limiting examples of such salts include: salts of hydrobromic acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and sulphuric acid. Organic acid addition salts include, for example, salts of acetic acid, benzenesulphonic acid, benzoic acid, camphorsulphonic acid, citric acid, 2-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-methylpropionic acid, 1, 2-ethanedisulphonic acid, ethanesulphonic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), fumaric acid, glucoheptonic acid, gluconic acid, glutamic acid, N-glycolylarsanilic acid, 4-hexylresorcinol, hippuric acid, 2-(4-hydroxybenzoyl) benzoicacid, 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoicacid, 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, 2-hydroxyethanesulphonic acid, lactobionic acid, n-dodecyl sulphuric acid, maleic acid, malic acid, mandelic acid, methanesulphonic acid, methyl sulpuric acid, mucic acid, 2-naphthalenesulphonic acid, pamoic acid, pantothenic acid, phosphanilic acid ((4-aminophenyl) phosphonic acid), picric acid, salicylic acid, stearic acid, succinic acid, tannic acid, tartaric acid, terephthalic acid, p-toluenesulphonic acid, 10-undecenoic acid or any other such acid now known or yet to be disclosed. It will be appreciated that such salts, provided that they are pharmaceutically acceptable, may be used in therapy. Such salts may be prepared by reacting the compound with a suitable acid in a manner known by those skilled in the art.

The disclosure also includes pharmaceutical compositions comprising an effective amount of a disclosed compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Representative “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” include, e.g., water-soluble and water-insoluble salts, such as the acetate, amsonate (4,4-diaminostilbene-2,2-disulfonate), benzenesulfonate, benzonate, bicarbonate, bisulfate, bitartrate, borate, bromide, butyrate, calcium, calcium edetate, camsylate, carbonate, chloride, citrate, clavulariate, dihydrochloride, edetate, edisylate, estolate, esylate, fumarate, gluceptate, gluconate, glutamate, glycollylarsanilate, hexafluorophosphate, hexylresorcinate, hydrabamine, hydrobromide, hydrochloride, hydroxynaphthoate, iodide, isethionate, lactate, lactobionate, laurate, magnesium, malate, maleate, mandelate, mesylate, methyl bromide, methyl nitrate, methyl sulfate, mucate, napsylate, nitrate, N-methylglucamine ammonium salt, 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoate, oleate, oxalate, palmitate, pamoate (1,1-methene-bis-2-hydroxy-3-naphthoate, einbonate), pantothenate, phosphate/diphosphate, picrate, polygalacturonate, propionate, p-toluenesulfonate, salicylate, stearate, subacetate, succinate, sulfate, subsalicylate, suramate, tannate, tartrate, teoclate, tosylate, triethiodide, and valerate salts.

As used herein, the term “stereoisomers” refers to the set of compounds which have the same number and type of atoms and share the same bond connectivity between those atoms but differ in three-dimensional structure. The term “stereoisomer” refers to any member of this set of compounds.

As used herein, the term “diastereomers” refers to the set of stereoisomers which cannot be made superimposable by rotation around single bonds. For example, cis- and trans-double bonds, endo- and exo-substitution on bicyclic ring systems, and compounds containing multiple stereogenic centers with different relative configurations are considered to be diastereomers. As used herein, the term “diastereomer” refers to any member of this set of compounds. In some examples presented, the synthetic route may produce a single diastereomer or a mixture of diastereomers. In some cases, these diastereomers were separated and in other cases a wavy bond is used to indicate the structural element where configuration is variable.

As used herein, the term “enantiomers” refers to a pair of stereoisomers which are non-superimposable mirror images of one another. As used herein, the term “enantiomer” refers to a single member of this pair of stereoisomers. As used herein, the term “racemic” refers to a 1:1 mixture of a pair of enantiomers.

As used herein, the term “tautomers” refers to a set of compounds that have the same number and type of atoms but differ in bond connectivity and are in equilibrium with one another. A “tautomer” is a single member of this set of compounds. Typically, a single tautomer is drawn but it is understood that this single structure is meant to represent all possible tautomers that might exist. Examples include enol-ketone tautomerism. When a ketone is drawn it is understood that both the enol and ketone forms are part of the disclosure.

An “effective amount” when used in connection with a compound is an amount effective for treating or preventing a disease in a subject as described herein.

As used herein, the term “carrier” encompasses carriers, excipients, and diluents and means a material, composition or vehicle, such as a liquid or solid filler, diluent, excipient, solvent or encapsulating material, involved in carrying or transporting a pharmaceutical agent from one organ, or portion of the body, to another organ, or portion of the body of a subject.

As used herein, the term “treating” with regard to a subject, refers to improving at least one symptom of the subject's disorder. Treating includes curing, improving, or at least partially ameliorating the disorder.

As used herein, the term “disorder” is used in this disclosure to mean, and is used interchangeably with, the terms disease, condition, or illness, unless otherwise indicated.

As used herein, the term “administer,” “administering,” or “administration” as used in this disclosure refers to either directly administering a disclosed compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the disclosed compound or a composition to a subject, or administering a prodrug derivative or analog of the compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound or composition to the subject, which can form an equivalent amount of active compound within the subject's body.

As used herein, the term “prodrug” means a compound which is convertible in vivo by metabolic means (e.g., by hydrolysis) to a disclosed compound. Furthermore, as used herein a prodrug is a drug which is inactive in the body but is transformed in the body typically either during absorption or after absorption from the gastrointestinal tract into the active compound. The conversion of the prodrug into the active compound in the body may be done chemically or biologically (e.g., using an enzyme).

As used herein, the term “solvate” refers to a complex of variable stoichiometry formed by a solute and solvent. Such solvents for the purpose of the disclosure may not interfere with the biological activity of the solute. Examples of suitable solvents include, but are not limited to, water, MeOH, EtOH, and AcOH. Solvates wherein water is the solvent molecule are typically referred to as hydrates. Hydrates include compositions containing stoichiometric amounts of water, as well as compositions containing variable amounts of water.

As used herein, the term “isomer” refers to compounds that have the same composition and molecular weight but differ in physical and/or chemical properties. The structural difference may be in constitution (geometric isomers) or in the ability to rotate the plane of polarized light (stereoisomers). With regard to stereoisomers, the disclosed compounds may have one or more asymmetric carbon atom and may occur as racemates, racemic mixtures and as individual enantiomers or diastereomers.

A “patient” or “subject” is a mammal, e.g., a human, mouse, rat, guinea pig, dog, cat, horse, cow, pig, or non-human primate, such as a monkey, chimpanzee, baboon or rhesus.

As used herein, the terms “FLT3 mutated proliferative disorder(s),” “disorder related to FLT3,” “disorders related to FLT3 receptor,” “disorders related to FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase,” “a deregulated FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase disease,” or “FLT3 driven cell proliferative disorder” includes diseases associated with or implicating FLT3 activity, for example, mutations leading to constitutive activation of FLT3. Non-limiting examples of “FLT3 mutated proliferative disorder(s)” include disorders resulting from over stimulation of FLT3 due to mutations in FLT3, or disorders resulting from abnormally high amount of FLT3 activity due to abnormally high amount of mutations in FLT3. It is known that over-activity of FLT3 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including the following listed cell proliferative disorders, neoplastic disorders, and cancers. Non-limiting examples of proliferative disorders for treatment with the present invention include leukemia, myeloma, myeloproliferative disease, myelodysplastic syndrome, idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES), bladder cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, CNS cancer, colon cancer, esophageal cancer, head and neck cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, neuroendocrine cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, renal cancer, salivary gland cancer, small cell lung cancer, skin cancer, stomach cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, uterine cancer, and hematologic malignancy.

As used herein, the terms “proliferative disorder(s)” and “cell proliferative disorder(s)” refer to excess cell proliferation of one or more subset of cells in a multicellular organism resulting in harm (i.e., discomfort or decreased life expectancy) to the multicellular organism. Cell proliferative disorders can occur in different types of animals and humans. As used herein, “cell proliferative disorders” include neoplastic disorders.

As used herein, the term “neoplastic disorder” refers to a tumor resulting from abnormal or uncontrolled cellular growth. Examples of neoplastic disorders include, but are not limited to the following disorders, for instance: the myeloproliferative disorders, such as thrombocytopenia, essential thrombocytosis (ET), agnogenic myeloid metaplasia, myelofibrosis (MF), myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM), chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (UIMF), and polycythemia vera (PV), the cytopenias, and pre-malignant myelodysplastic syndromes; cancers such as glioma cancers, lung cancers, breast cancers, colorectal cancers, prostate cancers, gastric cancers, esophageal cancers, colon cancers, pancreatic cancers, ovarian cancers, and hematological malignancies, including myelodysplasia, multiple myeloma, leukemias, and lymphomas. Examples of hematological malignancies include, for instance, leukemias, lymphomas, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma. Also, acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL), acute undifferentiated leukemia (AUL), anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL), prolymphocytic leukemia (PML), juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), adult T-cell ALL, AML, with trilineage myelodysplasia (AMLITMDS), mixed lineage leukemia (MLL), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs), myeloproliferative disorders (MPD), and multiple myeloma (MM). In certain embodiments, the present invention is directed at the use of a compound disclosed herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in an amount sufficient for the treatment of a neoplastic disorder.

Certain embodiments include a method of specifically inhibiting a deregulated receptor tyrosine kinase, comprising: obtaining a sample of a subject, determining which receptor tyrosine kinases are deregulated in the sample, and administering to the subject an effective amount of the compound of Formula I or a salt thereof, wherein the deregulated receptor tyrosine kinase is a FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase. In some implementations, the effective amount of the compound of Formula I or a salt thereof is an amount that decreases the subject's circulating peripheral blood blast count. In other implementations, the effective amount of the effective amount of the compound of Formula I or a salt thereof is an amount that decreases the subject's bone marrow blast count. In yet other implementations, the proliferative disease is selected from: leukemia, myeloma, a myeloproliferative disease, myelodysplastic syndrome, idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES), bladder cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, CNS cancer, colon cancer, esophageal cancer, head and neck cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, neuroendocrine cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, renal cancer, salivary gland cancer, small cell lung cancer, skin cancer, stomach cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, uterine cancer, hematologic malignancy, and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the compound of Formula I is an enantiomer. In some implementations, the compound is an (S)-enantiomer. In other implementations, the compound is a (R)-enantiomer. In some embodiments, the (R)- or (S)-enantiomeric configuration is assigned to the molecule. In other embodiments, the (R)- or (S)-enantiomeric configuration is not assigned to the molecule despite the enantiomeric purification or separation of the molecule. In yet other embodiments, the disclosed compound is a (+) or (−) enantiomer.

It should be understood that all isomeric forms are included within the present disclosure, including mixtures thereof. If the compound contains a double bond, the substituent may be in the E or Z configuration or cis or trans configuration. If the compound contains a disubstituted cycloalkyl, the cycloalkyl substituent may have a cis- or trans configuration. All tautomeric forms are also intended to be included. In some embodiments, the cis or trans configuration may be assigned to each molecule. In other embodiments, the cis or trans configuration may not be assigned to the molecules despite the chemical purification or separation of the diastereomers.

Examples that represent different aspects of the invention follow. Such examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure. Alternative mechanistic pathways and analogous structures within the scope of the invention would be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Elements and acts in the examples are intended to illustrate the invention for the sake of simplicity and have not necessarily been rendered according to any particular sequence or embodiment.

TABLE 1 Non-limiting examples of kinase inhibitor compounds. ID Structure M + 1 1

467 2

507 3

402 4

433 5

374 6

491 7

507 8

493 9

438 10

430 11

376 12

402 13

452 14

495 15

416 16

521 17

465 18

481 19

474 20

509 21

458 22

460 23

473 24

494 25

553 26

444 27

521 28

519 29

523 30

495 31

495 32

509 33

509 34

526 35

515 36

413 37

508 38

416 39

493 40

478 41

507 42

496 43

496 44

507 45

444 46

419 47

510 48

416 49

457 50

459 51

431 52

487 53

480 54

485 55

487 56

501 57

487 58

499 59

487 60

485 61

420 62

404 63

430 64

444 65

482 66

430 67

474 68

452 69

474 70

458 71

430 72

487 73

460 74

487 75

470 76

386 77

503 78

517 79

527 80

469 81

449 82

498 83

419 84

416 85

482 86

448 87

474 88

444 89

444 90

503 91

517 92

527 93

469 95

437 96

433 97

403 98

485 100

460 101

463 102

414 103

447 104

474 105

490 106

419 110

460 113

433 114

444 115

477

Unless specified, example compounds with a chiral center represent a racemic mixture of the corresponding R and S enantiomers, and all racemates and isolated enantiomers are within the scope of the invention.

Additional non-limiting examples are:

The compounds of the present invention demonstrate improved ROCK enzyme inhibiting activity, inhibition of cancer cell growth and viability, and FLT3-ITD mutant selectivity. In addition, the compounds demonstrate superior pharmacokinetic properties. As points of reference, two previously characterized compounds (i.e., Compounds A and B in Table 2) were analyzed. Additionally, the compounds disclosed herein generally demonstrate greater ROCK inhibition than Ripasudil, a clinical ROCK inhibitor, with relatively weak activity (ROCK1 IC₅₀=51 nM and ROCK2 IC₅₀=19 nM).

The compounds of the present disclosure may be made by a variety of methods, including standard chemistry. Suitable synthetic routes are depicted in the schemes given below.

The compounds may be prepared by methods known in the art of organic synthesis as set forth in part by the following synthetic schemes and examples. In the schemes described below, it is well understood that protecting groups for sensitive or reactive groups are employed where necessary in accordance with general principles or chemistry. Protecting groups are manipulated according to standard methods of organic synthesis (T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis”, Third edition, Wiley, New York 1999). These groups are removed at a convenient stage of the compound synthesis using methods that are readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The selection processes, as well as the reaction conditions and order of their execution, shall be consistent with the preparation of compounds of Formula I.

Those skilled in the art will recognize if a stereocenter exists in the compounds of Formula I. Accordingly, the present disclosure includes both possible stereoisomers (unless specified in the synthesis) and includes not only racemic compounds but the individual enantiomers and/or diastereomers as well. When a compound is desired as a single enantiomer or diastereomer, it may be obtained by stereospecific synthesis or by resolution of the final product or any convenient intermediate. Resolution of the final product, an intermediate, or a starting material may be affected by any suitable method known in the art. See, for example, “Stereochemistry of Organic Compounds” by E. L. Eliel, S. H. Wilen, and L. N. Mander (Wiley-Interscience, 1994).

The compounds described herein may be made from commercially available starting materials or synthesized using known organic, inorganic, and/or enzymatic processes.

A second aspect of the present disclosure relates to compositions capable of modulating (e.g., inhibiting) the activity of Rho-associated protein kinases (e.g., ROCK-1, ROCK2, or both). The present disclosure also relates to the therapeutic use of such compositions.

In some embodiments, the compound or composition selectively inhibits ROCK1. In some embodiments, the compound or composition selectively inhibits ROCK2. In some embodiments, the compound or composition is non-selective with respect to inhibition of ROCK1 and ROCK2.

The invention provides pan-ROCK inhibitors (i.e., compounds that inhibit ROCK1 and ROCK1) as well as ROCK inhibitors that are isoform selective. As discussed above, in certain embodiments of the invention, a ROCK2-selective inhibitor may be preferred. For example, one study observed that ROCK2 is frequently over expressed in hepatocellular cancer compared to non-timorous livers while ROCK1 expression is unaltered. Other cancers which may benefit from treatment with a ROCK2 selective inhibitor include, but are not limited to, colon and bladder cancer. In contrast, ROCK1 expression levels have been observed to be higher in mammary tumors. Any cancer may be tested to determine whether there is overexpression of ROCK1 and/or ROCK2 and treated accordingly. In certain circumstances, ROCK 1 and ROCK2 isoforms show similarity in regulating certain downstream targets.

A third aspect of the disclosure relates to a method of inhibiting Rho-associated protein kinases, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of at least one of the presently disclosed compounds. In some embodiments, the Rho-associated protein kinase comprises ROCK1.

A fourth aspect of the present disclosure relates at least one of the presently disclosed compounds, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, prodrug, stereoisomer, or tautomer thereof, for use in inhibiting a Rho-associated protein kinase.

A fifth aspect of the present disclosure relates to the use of at least one of the presently disclosed compounds, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, prodrug, stereoisomer, or tautomer thereof, in the manufacture of a medicament for inhibiting a Rho-associated protein kinase.

In other embodiments, the Rho-associated protein kinase comprises ROCK2. In yet other embodiments, the Rho-associated protein kinase comprises ROCK1 and ROCK2.

A sixth aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of treating a disease or improves a condition associated with modulation of Rho-associated protein kinases (e.g., ROCK-1, ROCK2, or both) in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject in need an effective amount of at least one of the presently disclosed compounds.

A seventh aspect of the present disclosure relates to at least one of the presently disclosed compounds, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, prodrug, stereoisomer, or tautomer thereof, for use in treating or preventing a disease associated with Rho-associated protein kinase modulation.

An eighth aspect of the present disclosure relates to the use of at least one of the presently disclosed compounds, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate, prodrug, stereoisomer, or tautomer thereof, in the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing a disease associated with Rho-associated protein kinase modulation or inhibiting a Rho-associated protein kinase.

Additional non-limiting examples of the diseases associated with modulation of Rho-associated protein kinases include an arterial thrombotic disorder, a cardiovascular disease, a central nervous system disorder, glucose intolerance, a hematologic disease, a hematologic malignant neoplastic disorder, hyperinsulinemia, an infection, an inflammatory or autoimmune disease, insulin resistance, a metabolic syndrome, a neoplastic disease, a neurodegenerative disease, a neurodevelopmental disorder, an ocular disorder, osteoporosis, proliferative diseases or disorders such as cancer, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), type 2 diabetes, a vascular smooth muscle dysfunction, etc.

Non-limiting examples of the conditions associated with modulation of Rho-associated protein kinases include promoting bone formation, and regulating intraocular pressure, etc.

As used herein, the term “cancer” refers to abnormal or unregulated cell growth within a subject. Non-limiting examples of cancer include amoeboid cancer cells, cancer characterized by amoeboid-like migration, breast cancer, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, gastric cancer (including rhoA-mutated gastric cancers), hepatocellular cancer, leukemias, lung cancer, lymphoma, melanoma, multiple myeloma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), prostate cancer, renal cancer, T-cell lymphoma, etc. Gastric cancer includes rhoA-mutated gastric cancers. Non-limiting examples of leukemias include acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, etc. Non-limiting examples of T-cell lymphoma include angioimmunoblastic, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and peripheral T-cell lymphoma, etc. In some embodiments, the disease associated with modulation of Rho-associated protein kinases is selected from the group consisting of: gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, amoeboid cancer cells (cancer characterized by amoeboid-like migration), and combinations thereof. In some implementations, the disease associated with modulation of Rho-associated protein kinases is rhoA-mutated gastric cancers.

Non-limiting examples of the neoplastic diseases include astrocytoma, adenocarcinoma of the kidney, adenocarcinoma of the lung, bladder cancer, blastoma, brain cancer, breast cancer, carcinoma, cancer of the peritoneum, cervical cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, endometrial carcinoma, esophageal cancer, gallbladder carcinoma, gastric cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, glioblastoma, head and neck cancer, hepatic carcinoma, hepatocellular cancer, hepatoma, kidney cancer, leukemia, liver cancer, lymphoma, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, pituitary cancer, prostate cancer, salivary gland carcinoma, sarcoma, small-cell lung cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, squamous carcinoma of the kidney, squamous carcinoma of the lung, squamous cell cancer, testis cancer, thyroid cancer, uterine carcinoma, and vulval cancer, etc.

Non-limiting examples of ocular disorders include age-related macular degeneration (AMD), choroidal neovascularization (CNV), diabetic macular edema (DME), glaucoma, iris neovascularization, ocular hypertension, retinitis of prematurity (ROP), and uveitis, etc. Non-limiting examples of glaucoma include acute angle-closure glaucoma, congenital glaucoma, neo vascular glaucoma, normal tension glaucoma, pigmentary glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, and secondary glaucoma, etc. In some embodiments, the disease associated with modulation of Rho-associated protein kinases is glaucoma. In some embodiments, the treatment regulates intraocular pressure. In some embodiments, the ocular disorder has an angiogenic component, and the method further comprising administering to the subject an angiogenesis inhibitor. In certain implementations, the ocular disorder is selected from the group consisting of: age related macular degeneration (AMD), choroidal neovascularization (CNV), diabetic macular edema (DME), iris neovascularization, uveitis, neo vascular glaucoma, retinitis of prematurity (ROP), and combinations thereof.

As used herein, the term “neurological disorders” refers to disorders of the nervous system (e.g., the brain and the spinal cord). Non-limiting examples of neurological disorders or neurodegenerative diseases include Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, attention deficit disorder (ADD), epilepsy, essential tremor, Huntington's Disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, spinal muscular atrophy, central nervous system trauma caused by tissue injury, and oxidative stress-induced neuronal or axonal degeneration, etc.

Non-limiting examples of neurodevelopmental disorders include Rett syndrome, and Niemann-Pick type C, etc.

In certain embodiments, compounds of the invention are used for treatment of central nervous system disorders. Such disorders may involve neuronal degeneration or physical injury to neural tissue. In certain embodiments, compounds of the invention have properties particularly useful for treatment of such disorders, such as beneficial tissue distribution to tissues of the central nervous system, and ability to cross the blood brain barrier.

In some embodiments, the central nervous system disorder comprises neuronal degeneration, spinal cord injury, or both. In another aspect, the central nervous system disorder is Huntington's disease, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or multiple sclerosis.

As used herein, the term “inflammation” refers to a host's response to an initial injury or infection. Non-limiting examples of symptoms of inflammation include heat, loss of function, pain, redness, and swelling, etc. Non-limiting examples of causes of inflammation include an upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, and increased expression of the FOXP3 transcription factor, etc.

As used herein, the term “autoimmune disorder” refers to a disorder wherein a host's own immune system responds to tissues and substances occurring naturally in the host's body.

Non-limiting examples of inflammatory or autoimmune diseases include arteriosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, spondylitis arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, cardiovascular inflammation, Crohn's disease, eczema, fibrotic disorders, graft versus host disease (GVHD), inflammatory bowel diseases, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, renal inflammation, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), type-1 diabetes, transplant rejection, etc. Non-limiting examples of fibrotic disorders include liver fibrosis, lung fibrosis, skin, cardiac, and kidney fibrosis, etc. Non-limiting examples of lung fibrosis include idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In some embodiments, the disease associated with modulation of Rho-associated protein kinases is selected from the group consisting of: GVHD, fibrotic disorders, and a combination thereof. In some implementations, the fibrotic disorder is liver fibrosis, lung fibrosis, kidney fibrosis, or combinations thereof. In some implementations, the lung fibrosis is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

In some embodiments, the disease associated with modulation of Rho-associated protein kinases is an infection (e.g., infectious diseases or disorders) caused by the invasion of a foreign pathogen (e.g., a bacterium, a fungus, or virus, etc.). In some implementations, the bacterial infection is caused by an E. coli.

As used herein, the term “metabolic disorder” or “metabolic disease” refers to abnormalities in the way that a subject stores energy. Non-limiting examples of metabolic disorders include metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and heart failure, etc.

In an embodiment of the invention, a ROCK inhibitor is used to reduce or prevent insulin resistance or restore insulin sensitivity. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the compounds of the invention are used to promote or restore insulin-dependent glucose uptake. In another embodiment of the invention, a ROCK-inhibitors of the invention is used to promote or restore glucose tolerance. In another embodiment of the invention, a ROCK inhibitor of the invention is used to treat metabolic syndrome. In another embodiment, a ROCK inhibitors of the invention is used to reduce or prevent hyperinsulinemia. In an embodiment of the invention, a ROCK inhibitor is used to treat diabetes (particularly type 2 diabetes). ROCK inhibitors of the invention may also be used to promote or restore insulin-mediated relaxation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In preferred embodiments, the ROCK inhibitor is ROCK2 selective.

According to the invention, ROCK inhibitors are used to effect weight loss and/or limit weight gain. In a preferred embodiment, the ROCK inhibitor is ROCK2 selective. ROCK-2 inhibitors promote weight loss in normal subjects, and limit weight gain in subjects prone to obesity.

Hematologic diseases primarily affect the blood, and non-limiting examples of hematologic disorders include anemia, lymphoma, and leukemia, etc.

Cardiovascular diseases, disorders, or conditions or vascular smooth muscle dysfunction affect the heart and blood vessels of the subject. Non-limiting examples include adult respiratory distress syndrome, atherosclerosis, cardiac hypertrophy, cardiovascular stress, cerebral ischemia, cerebral vasospasm, chronic ischemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease, erectile dysfunction, heart failure, hypertension, infarction-reperfusion injury, ischemic diseases, ocular hypertension, penile erectile dysfunction, pressure overload, peripheral circulatory disorder, peripheral artery occlusive diseases, peripheral artery disease, pulmonary hypertension, retinopathy and restenosis, etc.

In some implementations, the disease is selected from the group consisting of: ocular disorder, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, graft versus host disease, liver fibrosis, myelofibrosis (MF), myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM), chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (UIMF), a hematologic malignant neoplastic disorder is characterized by deregulated FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase activity, and combinations thereof.

In certain implementations, the disease is associated with upregulation of Rho kinase-signaling pathways.

In one embodiment, the arterial thrombotic disorder is platelet aggregation, leukocyte aggregation, or both.

In some embodiments, at least one of the presently disclosed compounds is administered in an effective amount to treat the disease or disorder, prevent the disease or disorder, or prevent the development thereof in the subject.

Administration of the at least one of the presently disclosed compounds can be accomplished via any mode of administration for therapeutic agents. Non-limiting examples of the modes include systemic administration or local administration such as oral, nasal, parenteral, transdermal, subcutaneous, vaginal, buccal, rectal or topical administration modes.

Depending on the intended mode of administration, the disclosed compositions can be in solid, semi-solid or liquid dosage form, such as, for example, injectables, tablets, suppositories, pills, time-release capsules, elixirs, tinctures, emulsions, syrups, powders, liquids, suspensions, or the like, sometimes in unit dosages and consistent with conventional pharmaceutical practices. Likewise, they can also be administered in intravenous (both bolus and infusion), intraperitoneal, subcutaneous or intramuscular form, all using forms well known to those skilled in the pharmaceutical arts.

Illustrative pharmaceutical compositions are tablets and gelatin capsules comprising a Compound of the Disclosure and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, such as a) a diluent, e.g., purified water, triglyceride oils, such as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, or mixtures thereof, corn oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, fish oils, such as EPA or DHA, or their esters or triglycerides or mixtures thereof, omega-3 fatty acids or derivatives thereof, lactose, dextrose, sucrose, mannitol, sorbitol, cellulose, sodium, saccharin, glucose and/or glycine; b) a lubricant, e.g., silica, talcum, stearic acid, its magnesium or calcium salt, sodium oleate, sodium stearate, magnesium stearate, sodium benzoate, sodium acetate, sodium chloride and/or polyethylene glycol; for tablets also; c) a binder, e.g., magnesium aluminum silicate, starch paste, gelatin, tragacanth, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, magnesium carbonate, natural sugars such as glucose or beta-lactose, corn sweeteners, natural and synthetic gums such as acacia, tragacanth or sodium alginate, waxes and/or polyvinylpyrrolidone, if desired; d) a disintegrant, e.g., starches, agar, methyl cellulose, bentonite, xanthan gum, alginic acid or its sodium salt, or effervescent mixtures; e) absorbent, colorant, flavorant and sweetener; f) an emulsifier or dispersing agent, such as Tween 80, Labrasol, HPMC, DOSS, caproyl 909, labrafac, labrafil, peceol, transcutol, capmul MCM, capmul PG-12, captex 355, gelucire, vitamin E TGPS or other acceptable emulsifier; and/or g) an agent that enhances absorption of the compound such as cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl-cyclodextrin, PEG400, PEG200.

Liquid, particularly injectable, compositions can, for example, be prepared by dissolution, dispersion, etc. For example, the disclosed compound is dissolved in or mixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent such as, for example, water, saline, aqueous dextrose, glycerol, ethanol, and the like, to thereby form an injectable isotonic solution or suspension. Proteins such as albumin, chylomicron particles, or serum proteins can be used to solubilize the disclosed compounds.

The disclosed compounds can be also formulated as a suppository that can be prepared from fatty emulsions or suspensions; using polyalkylene glycols such as propylene glycol, as the carrier.

The disclosed compounds can also be administered in the form of liposome delivery systems, such as small unilamellar vesicles, large unilamellar vesicles, and multilamellar vesicles. Liposomes can be formed from a variety of phospholipids, containing cholesterol, stearylamine or phosphatidylcholines. In some embodiments, a film of lipid components is hydrated with an aqueous solution of drug to a form lipid layer encapsulating the drug, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,564.

Microemulsification technology may be employed to improve bioavailability of lipophilic (water insoluble) pharmaceutical agents. Examples include Trimetrine (Dordunoo, S. K., et al, Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 17(12), 1685-1713, 1991) and REV 5901 (Sheen, P. C, et al, J Pharm Sci 80(7), 712-714, 1991). Among other things, microemulsification provides enhanced bioavailability by preferentially directing absorption to the lymphatic system instead of the circulatory system, which thereby bypasses the liver, and prevents destruction of the compounds in the hepatobiliary circulation.

In one aspect of invention, the formulations contain micelles formed from a compound of the present invention and at least one amphiphilic carrier, in which the micelles have an average diameter of less than about 100 nm. More preferred embodiments provide micelles having an average diameter less than about 50 nm, and even more preferred embodiments provide micelles having an average diameter less than about 30 nm, or even less than about 20 nm.

While all suitable amphiphilic carriers are contemplated, the presently preferred carriers are generally those that have Generally-Recognized-as-Safe (GRAS) status, and that can both solubilize the compound of the present invention and microemulsify it at a later stage when the solution comes into a contact with a complex water phase (such as one found in human gastrointestinal tract). Usually, amphiphilic ingredients that satisfy these requirements have HLB (hydrophilic to lipophilic balance) values of 2-20, and their structures contain straight chain aliphatic radicals in the range of C-6 to C-20. Examples are polyethylene-glycolized fatty glycerides and polyethylene glycols.

Particularly preferred amphiphilic carriers are saturated and monounsaturated polyethyleneglycolyzed fatty acid glycerides, such as those obtained from fully or partially hydrogenated various vegetable oils. Such oils may advantageously consist of tri-. di- and mono-fatty acid glycerides and di- and mono-polyethyleneglycol esters of the corresponding fatty acids, with a particularly preferred fatty acid composition including capric acid 4-10, capric acid 3-9, lauric acid 40-50, myristic acid 14-24, palmitic acid 4-14 and stearic acid 5-15%. Another useful class of amphiphilic carriers includes partially esterified sorbitan and/or sorbitol, with saturated or mono-unsaturated fatty acids (SPAN-series) or corresponding ethoxylated analogs (TWEEN-series).

Commercially available amphiphilic carriers are particularly contemplated, including Gelucire-series, Labrafil, Labrasol, or Lauroglycol (all manufactured and distributed by Gattefosse Corporation, Saint Priest, France), PEG-mono-oleate, PEG-di-oleate, PEG-mono-laurate and di-laurate, Lecithin, Polysorbate 80, etc. (produced and distributed by a number of companies in USA and worldwide).

Hydrophilic polymers suitable for use in the present invention are those which are readily water-soluble, can be covalently attached to a vesicle-forming lipid, and which are tolerated in vivo without toxic effects (i.e., are biocompatible). Suitable polymers include polyethylene glycol (PEG), polylactic (also termed polylactide), polyglycolic acid (also termed polyglycolide), a polylactic-polyglycolic acid copolymer, and polyvinyl alcohol. Preferred polymers are those having a molecular weight of from about 100 or 120 daltons up to about 5,000 or 10,000 daltons, and more preferably from about 300 daltons to about 5,000 daltons. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the polymer is polyethyleneglycol having a molecular weight of from about 100 to about 5,000 daltons, and more preferably having a molecular weight of from about 300 to about 5,000 daltons. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the polymer is polyethyleneglycol of 750 daltons (PEG(750)). The polymers used in the present invention have a significantly smaller molecular weight, approximately 100 daltons, compared to the large MW of 5000 daltons or greater that used in standard pegylation techniques. Polymers may also be defined by the number of monomers therein; a preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes polymers of at least about three monomers, such PEG polymers consisting of three monomers (approximately 150 daltons).

Other hydrophilic polymers which may be suitable for use in the present invention include polyvinylpyrrolidone, polymethoxazoline, polyethyloxazoline, polyhydroxypropyl methacrylamide, polymethacrylamide, polydimethylacrylamide, and derivatized celluloses such as hydroxymethylcellulose or hydroxyethylcellulose.

In certain embodiments, a formulation of the present invention comprises a biocompatible polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polycarbonates, polyalkylenes, polymers of acrylic and methacrylic esters, polyvinyl polymers, polyglycolides, polysiloxanes, polyurethanes and co-polymers thereof, celluloses, polypropylene, polyethylenes, polystyrene, polymers of lactic acid and glycolic acid, polyanhydrides, poly(ortho)esters, poly(butic acid), poly(valeric acid), poly(lactide-co-caprolactone), polysaccharides, proteins, polyhyaluronic acids, polycyanoacrylates, and blends, mixtures, or copolymers thereof.

The release characteristics of a formulation of the present invention depend on the encapsulating material, the concentration of encapsulated drug, and the presence of release modifiers. For example, release can be manipulated to be pH dependent, for example, using a pH sensitive coating that releases only at a low pH, as in the stomach, or a higher pH, as in the intestine. An enteric coating can be used to prevent release from occurring until after passage through the stomach. Multiple coatings or mixtures of cyanamide encapsulated in different materials can be used to obtain an initial release in the stomach, followed by later release in the intestine. Release can also be manipulated by inclusion of salts or pore forming agents, which can increase water uptake or release of drug by diffusion from the capsule. Excipients which modify the solubility of the drug can also be used to control the release rate. Agents which enhance degradation of the matrix or release from the matrix can also be incorporated. They can be added to the drug, added as a separate phase (i.e., as particulates), or can be co-dissolved in the polymer phase depending on the compound. In all cases the amount should be between 0.1 and thirty percent (w/w polymer). Types of degradation enhancers include inorganic salts such as ammonium sulfate and ammonium chloride, organic acids such as citric acid, benzoic acid, and ascorbic acid, inorganic bases such as sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, calcium carbonate, zinc carbonate, and zinc hydroxide, and organic bases such as protamine sulfate, spermine, choline, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine and surfactants such as Tween®. and Pluronic®. Pore forming agents which add microstructure to the matrices (i.e., water soluble compounds such as inorganic salts and sugars) are added as particulates. The range should be between one and thirty percent (w/w polymer).

Uptake can also be manipulated by altering residence time of the particles in the gut. This can be achieved, for example, by coating the particle with, or selecting as the encapsulating material, a mucosal adhesive polymer. Examples include most polymers with free carboxyl groups, such as chitosan, celluloses, and especially polyacrylates (as used herein, polyacrylates refers to polymers including acrylate groups and modified acrylate groups such as cyanoacrylates and methacrylates).

Disclosed compounds can also be delivered by the use of monoclonal antibodies as individual carriers to which the disclosed compounds are coupled. The disclosed compounds can also be coupled with soluble polymers as targetable drug carriers. Such polymers can include, but are not limited to polyvinylpyrrolidone, pyran copolymer, polyhydroxypropylmethacryl-amidephenol, polyhydroxyethylaspanamidephenol, or polyethyleneoxidepolylysine substituted with palmitoyl residues. Furthermore, the disclosed compounds can be coupled to a class of biodegradable polymers useful in achieving controlled release of a drug, for example, polylactic acid, polyepsilon caprolactone, polyhydroxy butyric acid, polyorthoesters, polyacetals, polydihydropyrans, polycyanoacrylates, and cross-linked or amphipathic block copolymers of hydrogels. In one embodiment, disclosed compounds are not covalently bound to a polymer, e.g., a polycarboxylic acid polymer, or a polyacrylate.

The preparations of the present invention may be given orally, parenterally, topically, or rectally. They are of course given in forms suitable for each administration route. For example, they are administered in tablets or capsule form, by injection, inhalation, eye lotion, ointment, suppository, etc. administration by injection, infusion or inhalation; topical by lotion or ointment; and rectal by suppositories. Oral administrations are preferred.

The phrases “parenteral administration” and “administered parenterally” as used herein means modes of administration other than enteral and topical administration, usually by injection, and includes, without limitation, intravenous, intramuscular, intraarterial, intrathecal, intracapsular, intraorbital, intracardiac, intradermal, intraperitoneal, transtracheal, subcutaneous, subcuticular, intraarticulare, subcapsular, subarachnoid, intraspinal and intrasternal injection and infusion.

The phrases “systemic administration,” “administered systemically,” “peripheral administration,” and “administered peripherally” as used herein mean the administration of a compound, drug or other material other than directly into the central nervous system, such that it enters the patient's system and, thus, is subject to metabolism and other like processes, for example, subcutaneous administration.

These compounds may be administered to humans and other animals for therapy by any suitable route of administration, including orally, nasally, as by, for example, a spray, rectally, intravaginally, parenterally, intracisternally and topically, as by powders, ointments or drops, including buccally and sublingually.

Regardless of the route of administration selected, the compounds of the present invention, which may be used in a suitable hydrated form, and/or the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention, are formulated into pharmaceutically-acceptable dosage forms by conventional methods known to those of skill in the art.

Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a disclosed compound and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutically acceptable carrier can further include an excipient, diluent, or surfactant.

Compositions can be prepared according to conventional mixing, granulating or coating methods, respectively, and the present pharmaceutical compositions can contain from about 0.1% to about 99%, from about 5% to about 90%, from about 1% to about 20%, or more preferably from about 10% to about 30% of the disclosed compound by weight or volume.

The dosage regimen utilizing the disclosed compound is selected in accordance with a variety of factors including type, species, age, weight, sex and medical condition of the patient; the severity of the condition to be treated; the route of administration; the renal or hepatic function of the patient; and the particular disclosed compound employed. A physician or veterinarian of ordinary skill in the art can readily determine and prescribe the effective amount of the drug required to prevent, counter or arrest the progress of the condition.

Effective dosage amounts of the disclosed compounds, when used for the indicated effects, range from about 0.005 mg to about 5000 mg of the disclosed compound as needed to treat the condition. Compositions for in vivo or in vitro use can contain about 0.5, 5, 20, 50, 75, 100, 150, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1250, 2500, 3500, or 5000 mg of the disclosed compound, or, in a range of from one amount to another amount in the list of doses. In general, a suitable daily dose of a compound of the invention will be that amount of the compound which is the lowest dose effective to produce a therapeutic effect. Such an effective dose will generally depend upon the factors described above. Generally, oral, intravenous, intracerebroventricular and subcutaneous doses of the compounds of this invention for a patient, when used for the indicated analgesic effects, will range from about 0.0001 to about 100 mg per kilogram of body weight per day. In one embodiment, the compositions are in the form of a tablet that can be scored.

In certain embodiments, a dose of a compound or a composition is administered to a subject every day, every other day, every couple of days, every third day, once a week, twice a week, three times a week, or once every two weeks. If desired, the effective daily dose of the active compound may be administered as two, three, four, five, six or more sub-doses administered separately at appropriate intervals throughout the day, optionally, in unit dosage forms. In some embodiments, a dose(s) of a compound or a composition is administered for 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, 14 days, or 21 days. In certain embodiments, a dose of a compound or a composition is administered for 1 month, 1.5 months, 2 months, 2.5 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months or more.

The above-described administration schedules are provided for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered limiting. A person of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that all doses are within the scope of the invention.

While it is possible for a compound of the present invention to be administered alone, it is preferable to administer the compound as a pharmaceutical formulation (composition).

The patient receiving this treatment is any animal in need, including primates, in particular humans, and other mammals such as equines, cattle, swine and sheep; and poultry and pets in general.

The compound of the invention can be administered as such or in admixtures with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and can also be administered in conjunction with antimicrobial agents such as penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides and glycopeptides. Conjunctive therapy, thus includes sequential, simultaneous and separate administration of the active compound in a way that the therapeutical effects of the first administered one is not entirely disappeared when the subsequent is administered.

The above-described administration schedules are provided for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered limiting. A person of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that all doses are within the scope of the invention.

Compounds of the invention can be advantageously administered with second agents to patients in need thereof. When a rho-kinase inhibitor is administered with a second agent, the rho-kinase inhibitor and the second agent can be administered sequentially or concomitantly. Sequentially means that one agent is administered for a time followed by administration of the second agent, which may be followed by administration of the first agent. When agents are administered sequentially, the level or one agent may not be maintained at a therapeutically effective level when the second agent is administered, and vice versa. Concomitantly means that the first and second agent are administered according to a schedule that maintains both agents at an substantially therapeutically effective level, even though the agents are not administered simultaneously. Each agent can be administered in single or multiple doses, and the doses can be administered on any schedule, including, without limitation, twice daily, daily, weekly, every two weeks, and monthly.

The invention also includes adjunctive administration. Adjunctive administration means that a second agent is administered to a patient in addition to a first agent that is already being administered to treat a disease or disease symptom. In some embodiments, adjunctive administration involves administering a second agent to a patient in which administration of the first agent did not sufficiently treat a disease or disease symptom. In other embodiments, adjunctive administration involves administration of the second agent to a patient whose disease has been effectively treated by administration of the first agent, with the expectation that the adjunctive treatment improves the outcome of the treatment. In some embodiments, the effect of administering the first and second agents is synergistic. In some embodiments, administration of the first and second agents prevents or lengthens the time until relapse, compared to administration of either of the agents alone. In some embodiments, administration of the first and second agents allows for reduced dosage and/or frequency of administration of the first and second agent.

In an embodiment of the invention, a rho-kinase inhibitor of the invention is administered and an anti-neoplastic agent are administered to a subject in need thereof. In another embodiment, a rho-kinase inhibitor of the invention and an angiogenesis inhibitor are administered to a subject in need thereof. In another embodiment, a rho-kinase inhibitor of the invention and an anti-inflammatory agent are administered to a subject in need thereof. In yet another embodiment, a rho-kinase inhibitor of the invention and an immunosuppressant are administered. The second agent can be, without limitation, a small molecule, an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof, or radiation.

Antineoplastic agents include, without limitation, cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents, targeted small molecules and biological molecules, and radiation. Compounds and agents that can be administered for oncological treatment, in addition to a rho kinase inhibitor of the invention, include the following: irinotecan, etoposide, camptothecin, 5-fluorouracil, hydroxyurea, tamoxifen, paclitaxel, capcitabine, carboplatin, cisplatin, bleomycin, dactomycin, gemcitabine, doxorubicin, danorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and radiotherapy, which can be external (e.g., external beam radiation therapy (EBRT)) or internal (e.g., brachytherapy (BT)).

Targeted small molecules and biological molecules include, without limitation, inhibitors of components of signal transduction pathways, such as modulators of tyrosine kinases and inhibitors of receptor tyrosine kinases, and agents that bind to tumor-specfic antigens. Examples include inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), including gefitinib, erlotinib, and cetuximab, inhibitors of HER2 (e.g., trastuzumab, trastuzumab emtansine (trastuzumab-DM1; T-DM1) and pertuzumab), anti-VEGF antibodies and fragments (e.g., bevacizumab), antibodies that inhibit CD20 (e.g., rituximab, ibritumomab), anti-VEGFR antibodies (e.g., ramucirumab (IMC-112 IB), IMC-lCl 1, and CDP791), anti-PDGFR antibodies, and imatinib. Small molecule kinase inhibitors can be specific for a particular tyrosine kinase or be inhibitors of two or more kinases. For example, the compound N-(3,4-dichloro-2-fluorophenyl)-7-({[(3aR,6aS)-2-methyloctahydrocyclopenta[c] pyrrol-5-yl]methyl}oxy)-6-(methyloxy)quinazolin-4-amine (also known as XL647, EXEL-7647 and KD-019) is an in vitro inhibitor of several receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), including EGFR, EphB4, KDR (VEGFR), Flt4 (VEGFR3) and ErbB2, and is also an inhibitor of the SRC kinase, which is involved in pathways that result in nonresponsiveness of tumors to certain TKIs. In an embodiment of the invention, treatment of a subject in need comprises administration of a rho-kinase inhibitor of Formula I and administration of KD-019.

Dasatinib (BMS-354825; Bristol-Myers Squibb, New York) is another orally bioavailable, ATP-site competitive Src inhibitor. Dasatanib also targets Bcr-Abl (FDA-approved for use in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) or Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)) as well as c-Kit, PDGFR, c-FMS, EpbA2, and Src family kinases. Two other oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor of Src and Bcr-Abl are bosutinib (SKI-606) and saracatinib (AZD0530).

According to the invention, angiogenesis inhibitors can be administered to a subject in conjunction with compounds of the invention. Angiogenesis inhibitors include any substance that inhibits the growth of new blood vessels. For example, angiogenesis inhibitors include antagonists of VEGF, P1GF, and VEGF receptors, including the antibodies disclosed herein. By inhibitor is meant an inhibitor of a biological process or inhibitor of a target. In this regard, an angiogenesis inhibitor is an agent that reduces angiogenesis. A Rho-kinase inhibitor is an agent, such as a competitive inhibitor of ATP binding, that inhibits an intrinsic activity or blocks an interaction of Rho-kinase. By antagonist is meant a substance that reduces or inhibits an activity or function in a cell associated with a target. For example, a VEGF antagonist reduces or blocks a function in a cell that is associated with VEGF. A VEGF antagonist may act on VEGF, by binding to VEGF and blocking binding to its receptors and/or may act on another cellular component involved in VEGF-mediated signal transduction. Similarly, a VEGFR2 antagonist is an agent that reduces or blocks VEGFR2-mediated signal transduction by binding to VEGFR2 and blocking ligand binding or interaction with a VEGFR2 substrate, or acts on another cellular component to reduce or block VEGFR2-mediated signal transduction. Thus, angiogenesis inhibitors include antagonists of, without limitation, VEGF, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, PDGF, PDGFR-β, neuropilin-1 (NRP1), and complement.

Non-limiting examples of VEGF-binding agents include VEGF antibodies and VEGF traps (i.e., ligand binding domains of VEGF receptors. In general, a VEGF trap is a protein that comprises VEGF binding domains of one or more VEGF receptor protein. VEGF-traps include, without limitation, soluble VEGFR-1, soluble neuropilin 1 (NRP1), soluble VEGFR-3 (which binds VEGF-C and VEGF-D), and aflibercept (Zaltrap; Eyelea; VEGF Trap R1R2), comprised of segments of the extracellular domains of human vascular endothelial growth factor receptors VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 fused to the constant region (Fc) of human IgG1. Conbercept (KH902) is a fusion protein which contains the extracellular domain 2 of VEGFR-1 (Flt-1) and extracellular domain 3, 4 of VEGFR-2 (KDR) fused to the Fc portion of human IgG1. Several VEGF traps containing KDR and FLT-1 Ig-like domains in various combinations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,216,575. DARPins (an acronym for designed ankyrin repeat proteins) are genetically engineered antibody mimetic proteins typically exhibiting highly specific and high-affinity target protein binding. DARPin® MP0112 is a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor and has entered clinical trials for the treatment of wet macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema.

According to the invention, VEGF expression can be targeted. For example, VEGF inhibitor PTC299 targets VEGF post-transcriptionally by selectively binding the 5′- and 3′-untranslated regions (UTR) of VEGF messenger RNA (mRNA), thereby preventing translation of VEGF. Pegaptanib (Macugen) is an RNA aptamer directed against VEGF-165.

Placental growth factor (PIGF) has been implicated in pathological angiogenesis. PIGF is structurally related to VEGF and is also a ligand for VEGFR-1. Consequently, VEGF traps comprising the extracellular domain of VEGFR1 (see above) are useful for targeting PIGF.

PDGF is composed of four polypeptide chains that form homodimers PDGF-AA, BB, CC, and DD as well as the heterodimer PDGF-AB. The PDGF receptors (PDGFR)-a and -β mediate PDGF functions. Specifically, PDGFRa binds to PDGF-AA, -BB, -AB, and —CC, whereas PDGFRP interacts with -BB and -DD. Non-limiting examples of PDGF-binding agents include anti-PDGF antibodies and PDGF traps. Agents that target PDGF include Fovista™ (E10030, Ophthotech), a pegylated aptamer targeting PDGF-B, and AX102 (Sennino et al., 2007, Cancer Res. 75(15):7359-67), a DNA oligonucleotide aptamer that binds PDGF-B.

Agents that target PDGF receptors include ramucirumab (IMC-3G3, human IgGi) an anti-PDGFRa antibody, crenolanib (CP-868596), a selective inihibitor of PDGFRa (IC₅₀=0.9 nM) and PDGFRp (IC₅₀=1.8 nM), and nilotinib (Tasigna®), an inhibitor of PDGFRa and PDGFRP and other tyrosine kinases.

Angiogenesis inhibitors include intracellular agents that block signal transduction mediated by, for example, VEGF, PDGF, ligands of VEGF or PDGF receptors, or complement. Intracellular agents that inhibit angiogenesis inhibitors include the following, without limitation. Sunitinib (Sutent; SU1 1248) is a panspecific small-molecule inhibitor of VEGFR1-VEGFR3, PDGFRa and PDGFRp, stem cell factor receptor (cKIT), Flt-3, and colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R). Axitinib (AG013736; Inlyta) is another small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor that inhibits VEGFR-1-VEGFR-3, PDGFR, and cKIT. Cediranib (AZD2171) is an inhibitor of VEGFR-1-VEGFR-3, PDGFRp, and cKIT. Sorafenib (Nexavar) is another small molecular inhibitor of several tyrosine protein kinases, including VEGFR, PDGFR, and Raf kinases. Pazopanib (Votrient; (GW786034) inhibits VEGFR-1, -2 and -3, cKIT and PDGFR. Foretinib (GSK1363089; XL880) inhibits VEGFR2 and MET. CP-547632 is as a potent inhibitor of the VEGFR-2 and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) kinases. E-3810 ((6-(7-((1-aminocyclopropyl) methoxy)-6-methoxyquinolin-4-yloxy)-N-methyl-1-naphthamide) inhibits VEGFR-1, -2, and -3 and FGFR-1 and -2 kinases in the nanomolar range. Brivanib (BMS-582664) is a VEGFR-2 inhibitor that also inhibits FGF receptor signaling. CT-322 (Adnectin) is a small protein based on a human fibronectin domain and binds to and inhibits activation of VEGFR2. Vandetanib (Caprelas; Zactima; ZD6474) is an inhibitor of VEGFR2, EGFR, and RET tyrosine kinases. X-82 (Xcovery) is a small molecule indolinone inhibitor of signaling through the growth factor receptors VEGFR and PDGFR.

Immune checkpoint antagonist therapies have been developed to enable a patient's own immune system to fight tumors by facilitating an existing immune response or allowing for the initiation of an immune response. These therapies have been shown to be effective at treating some cancers in some subjects. Three immune checkpoint targets are the subject of most on-going clinical work: Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), its ligands, PD-L1, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3), and cluster of differentiation 276 gene (CD276 also known as B7-H3). More recently, a new checkpoint target, GARP, has been investigated. Currently, a number of checkpoint antagonists are being evaluated in clinical trials. Non-limiting examples of these antagonists include fully human and humanized anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies (e.g., nivolumab, pembrolizumab), an anti-PD-L1 antibody (e.g., durvalumab, atezolizumab, MEDI4736), a fusion protein comprising PD-L2 extracellular domain and lgG1, an anti-CTLA-4 antibody (e.g., tremelimumab, ipilimumab), a CD276 inhibitor (e.g., enoblituzumab; pidilizumab, MGD009) and an antibody to GARP (ARGX-1 15).

In some aspects, the method comprises administering one or more checkpoint antagonist(s), the one or more checkpoint antagonist(s) is a PD-1 antagonist, a PD-L1 antagonist, a CTLA-4 antagonist, and/or a PD-L2 antagonist.

In some aspects, the method comprises administering more than one checkpoint antagonist, each checkpoint antagonist is independently selected from a PD-1 antagonist, a PD-L1 antagonist, a CTLA-4 antagonist, and/or a PD-L2 antagonist.

In some aspects, the administration of the checkpoint antagonist comprises administering:

a. a first checkpoint antagonist selected from a PD-1 antagonists, a PD-L1 antagonists, or PD-L2 antagonists; and a second checkpoint antagonist selected from CTLA-4 antagonists; or

b. a first checkpoint antagonist selected from a PD-1 antagonists, and a second checkpoint antagonist selected from a PD-L1 and PD-L2 antagonists.

In some aspects, the PD-1 antagonist is selected from nivolumab, pembrolizumab, and AMP-224.

In some aspects, the PD-L1 antagonist is selected from MDX-1 105, atezolizumab, and durvalumab.

In some aspects, the CTLA-4 antagonist is selected from ipulimumab and tremelimumab.

In some aspects, the checkpoint antagonist is pidilizumab.

Anti-inflammatories and immunosuppressants include steroid drugs such as glucocorticoids (e.g., dexamethasone), FK506 (tacrolimus), ciclosporin, fmgolimod, interferon, such as IFNP or IFNy, a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) binding protein such as infliximab (Remicade), etanercept (Enbrel), or adalimumab (Humira), and mycophenolic acid.

In certain embodiments, ROCK inhibitors of the invention are coadministered with agents used to treat metabolic disorders. For example, for treatment of obesity, the ROCK inhibitors may be combined with weight loss drugs such as, but not limited to, phentermine, fat adsorption inhibitors (e.g., Xenical), appetite suppressants, and the like. Procedures used to assist weight loss include, for example, stomach bands, stomach bypass or stapling. For insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome or hyperinsulinemia, ROCK inhibitors of the invention can be coadministered with compounds that lower cholesterol levels, for example, one or more medicines such as statins, fibrates, or nicotinic acid. For high blood pressure associated with such diseases, ROCK inhibitors of the invention can be coadministered with, for example, one or more antihypertensive medicines such as diuretics or angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. ROCK inhibitors of the invention can be administered in a treatment program that includes lifestyle changes such as increased physical activity, an improved diet, and/or quitting smoking. In certain embodiments, the ROCK inhibitor is ROCK2 selective.

Th17 cells are novel subset of helper CD4⁺ T cells that secrete IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22. The pro-inflammatory activity of Th17 cells can be beneficial to the host during infection, but uncontrolled Th17 function has been linked and actively involved in several autoimmune pathologies. Indeed, high levels of IL-17 are detected in the sera and biopsies of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients which correlates with destruction of synovial tissue and disease activity. The pathological role of IL-17 in arthritic joints is associated with its stimulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine production and increased recruitment of T cells and innate immune cells. Moreover, numbers of Th17 cells are significantly increased in the peripheral blood of RA patients as well as elevated concentrations of IL-17 were seen in supernatants of their PBMCs after stimulation with anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies ex vivo. In addition, in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, myelin reactive Th17 cells are also enriched and produce high amounts of IL-22 and IFN-7. Further, a significantly higher number of IL-17⁺ cells is detected in disease-affected gut areas compared to healthy areas of the same subjects with Crohn's disease (CD).

The development and function of Th17 cells depends on activation of specific intracellular signaling pathways. The steroid receptor-type nuclear receptor RORyt is selectively expressed in Th17 cells and appears to be required for IL-17 production. The induction of RORyt has been observed to be mediated by IL-6, IL-21 and IL-23 via a STAT3-dependent mechanism. STAT3 also binds directly to the IL-17 and IL-21 promoters. In addition to RORyt and STAT3, the interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is required for the differentiation of Th17 cells since IRF4 KO mice failed to mount Th17 response and were resistant to development of autoimmune responses. Recent studies have demonstrated that phosphorylation of IRF4 by Rho-kinase 2 (ROCK2) regulates IL-17 and IL-21 production and development of autoimmunity in mice.

According to the invention, targeting Th17 (IL-17-secreting) cells by rho-kinase inhibition provides a method for treating Th17 cell-mediated diseases, including but not limited to autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), psoriasis, Crohn's disease, atopic dermatitis, eczema, and GVHD in humans. In an embodiment of the invention, the Rho-kinase inhibitor is a compound of Formula I. In some embodiments, the rho-kinase inhibitor inhibits ROCK1 and ROCK2. In some embodiments, the rho-kinase inhibitor selectively inhibits ROCK2. Selective inhibition of ROCK2 provides for treatment of Th17 cell-mediated diseases and reduces or prevents toxicities associated with complete inhibition of ROCK activity.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical role in the maintenance of immunological tolerance to self-antigens and inhibition of autoimmune responses, but, at the same time, prevent an effective immune response against tumor cells. Indeed, Tregs isolated from the peripheral blood of patients with autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS), show a defect in their ability to suppress effector T cell function, while increased accumulation of Tregs correlates with a poor prognosis in many cancers. Thus, the level of Treg function effects a balance between effective immunity and avoidance of pathological autoreactivity.

The development and function of Tregs depend on activation of specific signaling transduction pathways. TGF-β and IL-2 activate expression of Foxp3 and STAT5 transcription factors that both play an essential role in the control of Treg suppressive function. On the other hand, pro-inflammatory cytokines inhibit Foxp3 expression via up-regulation of STAT3 phosphorylation. As shown herein, pharmacological inhibition of ROCK2 (e.g., with selective ROCK2 inhibitors such as KD025, ROCK2-specific siRNA-mediated inhibition of ROCK2), but not ROCK1, leads to down-regulation of STAT3 phosphorylation, interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) and steroid receptor-type nuclear receptor RORyt protein levels in human T cells.

Furthermore, as demonstrated herein, targeting ROCK2 with a selective inhibitor (e.g., KD025) leads to an increased proportion of Foxp3⁺ T cells via a STAT5-dependent mechanism and positively regulates their suppressive activity towards autoreactive lymphocytes. This effect of ROCK2 inhibition on Tregs is critical to limiting or preventing the onset of aberrant self-immune responses. This effect may be shown, for example, by assaying the ability of Tregs treated with a ROCK2 inhibitor to inhibit proliferation and cytokine secretion in target cells in vitro.

Accordingly, ROCK2 inhibitors of the invention effectively reduce or prevent chronic GVHD pathologies. As shown herein, the compounds of the invention reduce or prevent cGVHD pathologies in target organs. For example, a selective ROCK2 inhibitor administered to a transplant patient maintains or restores pulmonary function. The maintenance or restoration of pulmonary function correlates with reduced germinal center activity which would otherwise lead to production of autoreactive antibodies, and with reduced collagen deposition and antibody deposition in affected tissues. These pathologies are common to other targets of cGVHD as well, e.g., skin, gut, and liver, which would be similarly reduced or prevented.

Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, the compounds of the present disclosure can inhibit Rho-associated protein kinase such as ROCK-1 and ROCK-2.

It is to be understood and expected that variations in the principles of invention herein disclosed may be made by one skilled in the art and it is intended that such modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Throughout this application, various publications are referenced. These publications are hereby incorporated into this application by reference in their entireties to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. The following examples further illustrate the invention, but should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

EXAMPLES

The disclosure is further illustrated by the following examples and synthesis examples, that are not to be construed as limiting this disclosure in scope or spirit to the specific procedures herein described. It is to be understood that the examples are provided to illustrate certain embodiments and that no limitation to the scope of the disclosure is intended thereby. It is to be further understood that resort may be had to various other embodiments, modifications, and equivalents thereof which may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure and/or scope of the appended claims.

Example 1. Synthesis of Compound ID #1

Step 1.

To a solution of 4-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoic acid (100 mg, 0.50 mmol) and methyl 3-(aminomethyl)benzoate (99 mg, 0.6 mmol) in DMF were added diisopropylethylamine (DIEA, 0.26 mL, 1.5 mmol) and 1-[Bis(dimethylamino)methylene]-1H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-b]pyridinium 3-oxid hexafluorophosphate (HATU, 247 mg, 0.65 mmol). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 2 hrs and diluted with water. The mixture was concentrated and purified by C-18 column chromatography to give 1A (141 mg).

Step 2.

To a solution of 1A (141 mg, 0.41 mmol) in THE was added LiOH solution (1 M, 2.0 mL). The reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight and neutralized with HCl solution. The mixture was concentrated and purified by C-18 column chromatography to give 1B (97 mg).

Step 3.

To a solution of 1B (7 mg, 0.02 mmol) and 5-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazin-2-amine (6 mg, 0.04 mmol) in DMF were added diisopropylethylamine (DIEA, 0.007 mL, 0.04 mmol) and HATU (15 mg, 0.04 mmol). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 2 hrs and diluted with water. The mixture was concentrated and purified by C-18 column chromatography to give ID #1 (8 mg).

Example 2. Synthesis of Compound ID #10

Step 1.

To a solution of 4-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoic acid (50 mg, 0.25 mmol) and methyl 3-((1S)-1-amino-2-hydroxyethyl)benzoate HCl salt (75 mg, 0.3 mmol) in DMF were added diisopropylethylamine (DIEA, 0.13 mL, 0.75 mmol) and HATU (123 mg, 0.32 mmol). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 2 hrs and diluted with water. The mixture was concentrated and purified by C-18 column chromatography to give 2A (68 mg).

Step 2.

To a solution of 1A (68 mg, 0.17 mmol) in THE was added LiOH solution (1 M, 0.85 mL). The reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight and neutralized with HCl solution. The mixture was concentrated and purified by C-18 column chromatography to give 2B (40 mg).

Step 3.

To a solution of 2B (5 mg, 0.014 mmol) and cyclopentylamine (3 mg, 0.035 mmol) in DMF were added diisopropylethylamine (DIEA, 5 microL, 0.028 mmol) and HATU (7 mg, 0.018 mmol). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 2 hrs and diluted with water. The mixture was concentrated and purified by C-18 column chromatography to give ID #10 (5 mg).

Example 3. Synthesis of Compound ID #3

Step 1.

To a solution of 4-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoic acid (50 mg, 0.25 mmol) and 3-(aminomethyl)phenol (37 mg, 0.3 mmol) in DMF were added diisopropylethylamine (DIEA, 0.13 mL, 0.75 mmol) and HATU (123 mg, 0.32 mmol). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 2 hrs and diluted with water. The mixture was concentrated and purified by C-18 column chromatography to give 3A (62 mg).

Step 2.

To a mixture of 3A (62 mg, 0.20 mmol) and ethyl chloroacetate (25 mg, 0.20 mmol) in acetonitrile was added potassium carbonate (33 mg, 0.24 mmol). The reaction was heated to 55 C, stirred overnight, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by C-18 column chromatography to give 3B (55 mg).

Step 3.

To a solution of 3B (55 mg, 0.14 mmol) in THF was added LiOH solution (1 M, 0.7 mL). The reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight and neutralized with HCl solution. The mixture was concentrated and purified by C-18 column chromatography to give 3C (50 mg).

Step 4.

To a solution of 3C (10 mg, 0.028 mmol) and cyclopropylamine (5 mg, 0.084 mmol) in DMF was added HATU (13 mg, 0.034 mmol). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 2 hrs and diluted with water. The mixture was concentrated and purified by C-18 column chromatography to give ID #3 (10 mg).

Example 4—ROCK1 and ROCK2 Kinase Inhibition Assays

The following assay protocol is for measuring the phosphorylation of a peptide substrate (FAM-KKLRRTLSVA-OH wherein FAM is carboxyfluorescein). The peptide is >98% purity by Capillary Electrophoresis. The peptide is phosphorylated by the protein kinase ROCK1 or ROCK2. The ROCK1 or ROCK2 enzyme, substrate, and cofactors (ATP and Mg²⁺) are combined in a well of a microtiter plate and incubated for 3 hours at 25° C. in the presence or absence of an inhibitor compound. At the end of the incubation, the reaction is quenched by the addition of an EDTA-containing buffer. The substrate and product are separated and quantified electrophoretically using the microfluidic-based LABCHIP® 3000 Drug Discovery System from Caliper Life Sciences (Hopkinton, Mass.).

The components of the assay mixture are:

100 mM HEPES, pH 7.5

0.1% BSA

0.01% Triton X-100

1 mM DTT

10 mM MgCl₂

10 μM Sodium Orthovanadate

10 μM Beta-Glycerophosphate

5 μM ATP (for ROCK1) or 7 μM ATP (for ROCK2)

1% DMSO (from compound)

1.25 μM FAM-KKLRRTLSVA-OH

3 nM ROCK1 or 2.5 nM ROCK2 enzyme

Substrate and product peptides present in each sample are separated electrophoretically using the LABCHIP® 3000 capillary electrophoresis instrument. As substrate and product peptides are separated two peaks of fluorescence are observed. Change in the relative fluorescence intensity of the substrate and product peaks is the parameter measured reflecting enzyme activity. Capillary electrophoregramms (RDA acquisition files) are analyzed using HTS Well Analyzer software (Caliper Life Sciences, Hopkinton, Mass.). The kinase activity in each sample is determined as the product to sum ratio (PSR): P/(S+P), where P is the peak height of the product peptide and S is the peak height of the substrate peptide. For each compound, enzyme activity is measured at various concentrations (12 concentrations of compound spaced by 3× dilution intervals). Negative control samples (0%—inhibition in the absence of inhibitor) and positive control samples (100%—inhibition in the presence of 20 mM EDTA) are assembled in replicates of four and are used to calculate %—inhibition values for each compound at each concentration. Percent inhibition (Pinh) is determined using the following equation:

Pinh=(PSR0%−PSRinh)/(PSR0%−PSR100%)*100

where PSRinh is the product sum ratio in the presence of inhibitor, PSR0% is the average product sum ratio in the absence of inhibitor, and PSR100% is the average product sum ratio in 100%-inhibition control samples. The IC₅₀ values of inhibitors are determined by fitting the inhibition curves (Pinh versus inhibitor concentration) by the 4-parameter sigmoidal dose-response model using XLfit 4 software (IBDS).

This assay can be used to test the activity of each of the exemplary compounds identified in Table 2. It is expected that each of these compounds will demonstrate inhibition of the protein kinase ROCK1 and/or ROCK2.

Example 5. Cell Viability Assay

Cell viability in the presence of varying concentrations of the above listed compounds at different time points was used to assess cytotoxicity and the effect of the compounds on cell proliferation. IC₅₀ (or percent activity) data for the compounds of the present invention in K562 or MV411 cell lines are summarized in Table 2.

Cell Viability Assay—Cell viability was measured by the CELLTITER-GlO® cell viability assay from Promega (Madison, Wis.). The CELLTITER-GlO® Luminescent Cell Viability Assay is a homogeneous method to determine the number of viable cells in culture based on quantitation of the ATP present, which signals the presence of metabolically active cells. Following treatment, CELLTITER-GlO® is added to treatment wells and incubated at 37° C. Luminescence values were measured at using a Molecular Devices Spectramax microplate reader.

Experimental Design

Single Agent Studies—Cells were grown to 70% confluency, trypsinized, counted, and seeded in 96 well flat-bottom plates at a final concentration of 2.5×10³-5×10³ cells/well (Day 0). Cells were allowed to incubate in growth media for 24 hours. Treatment with the test agents or standard agents began on Day 1 and continued for 72 hours. At the 72-hour time point, treatment containing media was removed. Viable cell numbers were quantified by the CELLTITER-GLO® cell viability assay as described above. Results from these studies were used to calculate an IC₅₀ value (concentration of drug that inhibits cell growth by 50 percent of control) for each compound.

Data Collection—For single agent and combination studies, data from each experiment was collected and expressed as % Cell Growth using the following calculation:

% Cell Growth=(f _(test) /f _(vehicle))×100

Where f_(test) is the luminescence of the tested sample, and f_(vehicle) is the luminescence of the vehicle in which the drug is dissolved. Dose response graphs and IC₅₀ values were generated using Prism 6 software (GraphPad) using the following equation:

Y=(Top-Bottom)/(1+10^(((log IC50-X)-HillSlope)))

Where X is the logarithm of the concentration and Y is the response. Y starts at the Bottom and goes to the Top with a sigmoid shape.

Example 6. ROCK1 and ROCK2 Kinase Inhibition and Cell Viability Assay Results

In general, kinases regulate many important cellular activities including cell growth, signaling, metabolism, etc. Different kinases have distinct functions and pathways. Selective inhibition of ROCK1 and ROCK2 avoids off target activity that may cause undesired side effects such as toxicity.

The protocols outlined in Examples 5 and 6 were followed to test ROCK1 and ROCK2 kinase inhibition and cancer cell viability with compounds from Table 1. As shown in Table 2, the compounds demonstrated inhibition of the ROCK1 and ROCK2 kinases and growth of cancer cells.

The experiments also evaluated the selectivity of the compounds for inhibiting growth of cancer cells carrying a mutation in the Flt3 gene. The MV411 cell line expresses the mutant allele of Flt3 with internal tandem duplications (ITD) of the gene. See Quentmeier et al., “FLT3 Mutations in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cell Lines,” Leukemia 17(1), 2003, 120-124. K562 is a chronic myeloid leukemia cell line that does not express FLT3 protein. See Grafone et al., “Monitoring of FLT3 Phosphorylation Status and Its Response to Drugs By Flow Cytometry in AML Blast Cells,” Hematol Oncol. 26(3), 2008, 159-166. Compounds demonstrating FLT3-ITD⁺ selectivity are identified by a greater K562/MV411 ratio in Table 2.

FLT3/ITD gene mutations have been detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in chronic phase (CML-CP), CML cases in blast crisis (CML-BC), chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), multiple myeloma (MM) cases and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) with marrow infiltration. Patients with ITD-FLT3⁺ acute myeloid leukemia (AML) experience an extremely poor prognosis.

Surprisingly, many of the compounds demonstrated greater efficacy with the MV11 cells than with the K562 cells, suggesting that these compounds could be used to effectively treat FLT3-ITD⁺ cancers including ITD-FLT3⁺ AML.

TABLE 2 ROCK1 and ROCK2 kinase inhibition and cell viability FLT3-ITD⁺ ROCK1 ROCK2 Selectivity Compound IC₅₀ IC₅₀ K562* MV411* (K562/ ID (nM) (nM) (μM) (μM) MV411) 1 11.6 6.0 >100 8.9 >11 2 2.8 2.8 3 38.8 14.2 >100 2.4 >42 4 56.1 18.9 5 21.7 6.7 >100 1.5 >68 6 1.2 8.0 0.2 40 7 1.5 20.4 0.06 333 8 1.3 9 1.7 35 0.8 47 10 4.8 0.87 17 0.17 100 11 2.7 >100 12.3 >8 12 1.8 >100 0.54 >187 13 1.7 27 3.0 9 14 1.6 48 0.09 532 15 9 >100 4.0 >25 16 3.6 30 1.5 20 17 22.5 >100 13.5 >7 18 19.6 >100 15.9 >6 19 44 13.2 3 20 1.2 16 0.01 1585 21 3.1 1.0 39 2.1 19 22 0.57 >100 3.8 >27 23 0.3 56 0.09 632 24 2.2 1.2 28 1.5 19 25 18.9 26 3.7 1.5 48 7.4 6 27 0.39 25 4.4 6 28 1.6 1.1 >100 2.4 >42 29 65.1 30 2.9 1.5 31 2.1 1.0 32 1.4 0.9 37 0.06 619 33 0.38 34 0.69 35 1.6 1.2 36 1.2 37 3.0 1.7 38 56 20 39 0.3 9.4 0.01 940 40 0.41 3.4 41 6.53 42 72.6 43 9.3 44 240 45 257 46 1.88 11 0.09 122 47 0.54 36 0.10 360 48 1.01 >100 0.44 >230 49 0.30 >100 0.02 >5050 50 0.33 >100 0.10 >1010 51 4.38 >100 1.45 >70 52 0.61 >100 0.12 >842 53 0.66 >100 0.22 >459 54 0.54 >100 0.07 >1443 55 0.47 >100 0.12 >842 56 0.31 >100 0.09 >1122 57 0.63 >100 0.09 >1122 58 0.44 >100 0.04 >2525 59 0.46 >100 0.28 >361 60 0.53 >100 0.04 >2525 61 2.12 >100 2.5 >40 62 2.85 65 1.03 63 63 14 4.1 >100 0.14 >721 64 16.8 5.2 >100 1.49 >68 65 0.6 28 0.07 393 66 0.6 36 0.13 279 67 9.1 41 2.67 15 68 104 69 0.7 52 0.15 350 70 3.84 0.9 85 0.31 275 71 9.0 34 0.91 37 72 0.5 89 0.10 891 73 0.6 27 0.08 337 74 27.1 74 9.12 8 75 0.5 33 0.16 207 76 2.4 1.2 58 0.48 120 77 2.1 0.94 >100 0.02 >5000 78 1.7 0.57 >100 0.03 >3333 79 1.9 0.68 >100 0.03 >3333 80 1.7 0.51 85 0.09 935 81 3.2 0.88 >100 0.12 833 82 2.0 0.65 >100 0.61 166 83 20 >100 3.6 >28 84 1.2 33 0.27 123 85 0.6 33 0.09 368 86 2.7 >100 1.7 >58 87 0.8 23 0.27 85 88 7.5 >100 8.5 >12 89 0.72 66 0.28 236 90 0.64 >100 0.02 >5050 91 0.57 >100 0.03 >4040 92 0.68 >100 0.03 >3061 93 0.51 85 0.09 935 94 0.65 >100 0.61 166 95 2.34 76 0.89 86 96 53.1 101 0.71 142 97 0.74 17 0.11 154 98 0.23 101 0.25 15 0.08 194 103 1.51 0.52 8 0.14 59 106 20 110 2.5 >100 0.41 246 115 3.91 1.02 45 0.24 188 Compound 3.3 2.8 0.8 0.7 1 A** Compound 9.9 8.7 20 1.3 15 B***

*MV411 is ITD-FLT3⁺, and K562 does not express ITD-FLT3. Rho-associated kinase may be manipulated for the treatment of ITD-FLT3⁺ AMVL as reported in Onish et al., “Internal Tandem Duplication Mutations in FLT3 Gene Augment Chemotaxis to Cxcl12 Protein by Blocking the Down-regulation of the Rho-associated Kinase via the Cxcl12/Cxcr4 Signaling Axis,” J. Biol. Chem. 289 (45), 2014, 31053-31065.

**Compound A was a positive control (shown below and is described by Schirok et al., “Design and Synthesis of Potent and Selective Azaindole-Based Rho Kinase (ROCK) Inhibitors,” ChemMedChem 3, 2008, 1893-1904).

*** Compound B was another positive control (shown below and is described by Cook et al., “RHO KINASE INHIBITORS” U.S. Pat. No. 8,697,911).

Example 7. Pharmacokinetic Activity

Compounds were individually and accurately weighed out to produce a stock solution in Dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) at a concentration of 2 mg/mL and stored at −20° C. From the stock solution, a working stock was prepared by diluting it in Methanol-Water 50:50 (v/v) at 20 μg/mL for calibration curve preparation and stored at 4° C. Standards used for quantitation and quality control samples (QCs) were prepared on the same day of sample processing using blank plasma obtained from non-treated mice. For each analyte, standards were prepared through serial dilutions of the working stock at concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 ng/mL; QCs were prepared at intermediate concentrations of 0.75, 7.5, 75, and 750 ng/mL. Plasma samples were stored at −80° C. until ready for analysis and then placed on ice for thawing. An aliquot of 20 μL samples, standards, or QCs, were transferred into a 96-well extraction plate according to a pre-defined layout. An appropriate volume of Methanol-Formic Acid 99.9-0.1 containing internal standard (Verapamil at 25 ng/mL) was added to each well and the samples were extracted under vacuum. Eluent was then transferred into a LCMS plate for analysis using a suitable column for separation and MRM detection. Concentration of analytes was calculated based on the calibration curve and analyzed for pharmacokinetic parameters by using Non-compartmental analysis (NCA). Parameters such as Cmax, Tmax, half-life, AUC(0-last), AUC(0-∞), volume of distribution (Vss), and clearance (Cl/F) were reported.

TABLE 3 Pharmacokinetic activity of 7, 10 and 36 in mice 7 10 36 PK IV-1 PO-5 IV-1 PO-5 IV-1 PO-5 parameters mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg mg/kg R-sq 0.88 0.47 0.90 0.93 0.72 1.00 Half-life (hr) 6.43 N/A 3.86 2.32 2.59 2.96 Tmax (hr) 0.25 1.00 0.25 1.00 0.25 1.00 Cmax 190.02 5.30 4179.80 13132.60 4344.78 2501.58 (ng/mL) C0 (ng/mL) 411.06 7001.17 5905.04 AUC₀₋₈ 234.71 81.60 5346.72 51413.43 5854.70 8887.72 (hr*ng/mL) AUC_(0-inf) 242.69 N/A 5367.78 51459.94 6067.28 10491.23 (hr*ng/mL) AUC % 3.29 N/A 0.39 0.09 0.35 0.33 Extrap Vss (L/kg) 16.31 0.32 0.27 Vz/F obs N/A 0.30 2.04 (L/kg) Cl/F obs 4.12 N/A 0.17 0.09 0.16 0.48 (L/hr/kg) % F^(a) N/A >100 34.58

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All publications, patents, and patent publications cited are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety for all purposes.

It is understood that the disclosed invention is not limited to the particular methodology, protocols and materials described as these can vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purposes of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention which will be limited only by the appended claims.

Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims. 

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A compound of Formula (I):

wherein: Z₁ is pyrazole optionally substituted with one or more of the following: halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl; Z₂ is phenyl, pyridine, or pyrazole, wherein the phenyl, pyridine, or pyrazole is optionally substituted with, H, halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —OR′OR″, —O(CH₂)₂NR′R″, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or a 3- to 10-membered heterocycle, and wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or 3- to 10-membered heterocycle is optionally substituted with one or more of the following: halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, and wherein the R′ or R″ are independently —H, methyl or ethyl; R₁ is H, —C1-C6 alkyl or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl is optionally substituted with one or more of the following: halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, or —S(O)₂R′; R is methyl; X is a bond or —OR₄, wherein R₄ is H, —C1-C6 alkyl or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl; R₂ and R₃ are independently H, —C1-C6 alkyl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, aryl, C5-C10 membered heterocycle,

wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, aryl, C5-C10 membered heterocycle is optionally substituted with halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —CNR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or 3- to 11-membered heterocycle, wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or 3- to 11-membered heterocycle is optionally substituted with one or more of the following: halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —CH₂NR′R″, —OR′, —OR′R″, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, and wherein R₅ is —C1-C6 alkyl, —OCH₂CH₂—, —NR₆CH₂CH₂—, —NC(O)CH₂CH₂—; R₆ is H, —C1-C6 alkyl or —C3-C7 cycloalkyl; and R′ or R″ is independently —H or —C1-C6 alkyl, or R′ and R″ together, optionally attaching to N or O atom, form a 4- to 8-membered cyclic structure.
 22. The compound of claim 21, wherein Z₂ is selected from the group consisting of:


23. The compound of claim 21, wherein R₁ is H, unsubstituted methyl, methoxyethyl or dimethylaminoethyl.
 24. The compound of claim 23, wherein R₁ is H.
 25. The compound of claim 24, wherein R is methyl with R configuration.
 26. The compound of claim 21, wherein X is a bond.
 27. The compound of claim 21, wherein R₂ is H.
 28. The compound of claim 27, wherein R₃ is H, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopropyl, cyclohexyl methyl, cyclopentyl methyl, cyclobutyl methyl, cyclopropyl methyl, phenyl, benzyl, pyrrolidine-3-yl, piperidine-4-yl, (pyrrolidine-3-yl)methyl, (piperidine-4-yl)methyl,

and wherein the cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopropyl, cyclohexyl methyl, cyclopentyl methyl, cyclobutyl methyl, cyclopropyl methyl phenyl, benzyl, pyrrolidine-3-yl, piperidine-4-yl, (pyrrolidine-3-yl)methyl or (piperidine-4-yl)methyl is optionally substituted with halo, —OH, —CN, —COOR′, —OR′, —SR′, —OC(O)R′, —NHR′, —NR′R″, —CNR′R″, —NHC(O)R′, —NHC(O)NR′R″, —C(O)NR′R″, —NS(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —S(O)₂R′, guanidino, nitro, nitroso, —C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, —C3-C7 cycloalkyl, or 3- to 11-membered heterocycle.
 29. The compound of claim 27, wherein R₃ is cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl.
 30. The compound of claim 21, wherein Z₂ is unsubstituted phenyl, unsubstituted pyridine, unsubstituted pyrazole, or phenyl substituted with halo, —OR′, —C1-C6 alkyl, —OR′OR″, —O(CH₂)₂NR′R″, wherein the —C1-C6 alkyl is optionally substituted with one or more of —OR′ or NR′R″; R₁ is H, unsubstituted methyl or dimethylamine; X is a bond; R₂ is H; and R′ or R″ is independently —H, methyl or ethyl.
 31. The compound of claim 21, selected from the group consisting of:


32. The compound of claim 31, consisting of


33. A pharmaceutical composition, comprising the compound of claim 21 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 34. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 33 for use in a method of inhibiting Rho-associated protein kinase activity in a subject.
 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the subject has a disease associated with Rho-associated protein kinase activity.
 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the disease associated with Rho-associated protein kinase activity is selected from the group consisting of: an arterial thrombotic disorder, cancer, a cardiovascular disease, a central nervous system disorder, glucose intolerance, a hematologic disease, a hematologic malignant neoplastic disorder, hyperinsulinemia, an infection, an inflammatory or autoimmune disease, insulin resistance, a metabolic syndrome, a neoplastic disease, a neurodegenerative disease, a neurodevelopmental disorder, an ocular disorder, osteoporosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), type 2 diabetes, a vascular smooth muscle dysfunction, and combinations thereof.
 37. The method of claim 36 wherein cancer is selected from the group consisting of: angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), breast cancer, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), hepatocellular cancer, gastric cancers, leukemia, lung cancer, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, amoeboid cancer cells, cancer characterized by amoeboid cancer cell migration, peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), prostate cancer, and renal cancer.
 38. The method of claim 37, wherein gastric cancer is RhoA-mutated gastric cancer.
 39. The method of claim 35, wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of: gastric cancer, glaucoma, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), melanoma, pancreatic cancer, primary myelofibrosis (MF), psoriasis, amoeboid cancer cells, cancer characterized by amoeboid cancer cell migration, liver fibrosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
 40. The method of claim 35, wherein the disease consists of RhoA-mutated gastric cancer, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or both.
 41. The method of claim 35, wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of: pulmonary arterial hypertension, amoeboid cancer cell, cancer characterized by amoeboid cancer cell migration, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and primary myelofibrosis. 